PAINFUL PAP SMEAR EXAM

I just had a papsmear last week, and it was horribly painful.  The pain is not when the speculum enters the vaginal entrance.  The speculum inserts fine, and there is no dryness in the entrance.  It's when the OB (a lady) starts touching the cervix area.  I guess that's where they take piece from.  Well, when she gets ready to pinch a piece off, it was excruciatingly painful, and she stopped the procedure and pulled out the speculum.  I became so tense and I was crying.  I was very upset and concerned and scared, and said to just hurry up and do it to get it overwith.  When she did it, I was in very much pain, and was crying so hard.  When she finished, I was crying like a little girl saying "I don't want to do this again, ever.  Do I have to do this again?"  She said that, if I have had good results in the past, I can wait every two or three years.  But, I don't want to do this again.  It was unbearable!  Then, after I walked out of the room, an assistant came over and gave me a big hug.  The pain subsided right away.  I am surprised I had no bleeding.  How could that not be?

The doctor said it was due to dryness and a lack of estrogen and suggested I use a suppository to insert for one week before my appointment.  I don't want to even try.  I told her my estrogen is high, and that it can't be dryness, if the vaginal opening isn't dry.  Is it possible for the cervix to be dry and not the vaginal area?

Not only is it an immodest position, but I don't want to put myself through that again.  I recall that the last papsmear I had did not hurt.  The one before that was painful, but that time, it was cramping, not a pinch at the top of the speculum.  It was a young girl doing it that time, and I attributed it to her inexperience.  After my experience last week, I think it's something in my anatomy that changed.

I am 56, passed menopause, and have not had sexual relations for 15 years.  I don't think that has anything to do with it.  When I have been kissing a man, my body lubricates fine so dryness is not an issue, unless, as I said before the cervix can be dry while the vagina is well lubricated.

I found out I have kidney stones a year ago, because my bones are leaking calcium through my urine.  I have plenty of calcium, it's just that it's leaking.  The urologist referred me to an endocrinologist who said it was not my para thryroid hormone, as the urologist initially thought.  He said it was simply menopause and lack of vitamin D.  So, I take 2,000mg of Vitamin D, fish oil, and 500mg of calcium.  I take less calcium so I do not form more calcium oxilate stones, and he said, I have plenty, anyway.  I only share these things, as these are the issues I am dealing with and wonder if any of it might be affecting the painful papsmear when she pinches at or near the cervix?  My guess is not.

So, if not, what do I do next time?  I think I will just go every two years, and I will insist on some kind of anesthesia or just not go.

Hi. I want to add my voice to this issue. I am 59yrs old and find PAP tests and internal ultra sounds VERY painful. Now they have discussed doing a sonohystogram where they puncture the cervix and pump fluid into the uterous. All they want to give me for pain is tylenol 3! It doens't even help a touth ache, let alone the excruciating pain this exam will provide. Why is it, I can have sedation dentistry (never needed it) for simple dental work, but something that is so incredibly painful they offer nothing? WHY ARN'T THE DOCTORS LISTENING!!

Like many of the other posts here, I'm postmenopausal, plus, have scaring from cryosurgery, have never been pregnant and have not had sex in over a decade. I think they don't consider the age and individual differences of patients. I had no problem with PAP tests or even the cryosurgery which was uncomfortable when I was younger, and before the scars the cryosurgery provided.

If anyone has information on sedation or medication that makes the PAP and other internal exams possible, please reply.

I am 45 and just had a pap test.   It does feel like a sharp knife jabbing at your cervix.  I have toldl my female doctor that and she is not sympathetic.  She acts like their is something wrong with me because I don't tolerate it well.

She later found out I had a bacterial infection, yeast infection and cervical polyp.  Duh.  That could be why it was uncomfortable.

She then proceeded to tell me that alot of women don't come back after painful paps and she hopes that I still come back.

I had men doctors too,  and they were a little more gentle.

Anyways, someone out there needs to invent a better speculum.  Especially if women are avoiding pap tests due to bad experiences.

My friend who is a nurse told me to take ibuprofen 15 minutes before the appt.