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Concerned about upcoming PAP Smear appointment!! !

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Which is more painful?
Poll ended at 20 Sep 2025, 3:40 am
Pap smear test 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Childbirth 100%  100%  [ 4 ]
None of the above!! ! 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 4

Mikurotoro92
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21 Aug 2025, 2:18 am

I have an upcoming appointment to get a Pap smear test and it fills me with anxiety! !!

I am afraid it will hurt and I'm afraid of the results!

I know the procedure is VERY quick and relatively painless but I don't like even doctors looking at my private parts (which means I will NOT be having children unless it's through a surrogate!) because it's invasive

What should I do about this?!?

Can I decline the exam if I REALLY don't want it?

Or...will this screening determine if I can handle childbirth?

What is more painful:

-a Pap Smear

or

-Giving birth?

Also I heard that sedation and anesthesia is possible with a Pap test so that might be something worth looking into!



Coilette_91
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21 Aug 2025, 2:22 pm

I had gotten my first pap smear done a couple of years ago while in my 30s and it was absolutely painful. But I believe it's because I've never been sexually active so them prodding around down there hurt me a lot. I even had to get my IUD surgically implanted under anesthesia because I couldn't take the pain of my gynecologist trying to do it herself in a regular clinic.

Since you are sexually active, it shouldn't hurt. But I have heard that it's uncomfortable for women that aren't virgins.


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Mikurotoro92
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21 Aug 2025, 6:17 pm

Coilette_91 wrote:
I had gotten my first pap smear done a couple of years ago while in my 30s and it was absolutely painful. But I believe it's because I've never been sexually active so them prodding around down there hurt me a lot. I even had to get my IUD surgically implanted under anesthesia because I couldn't take the pain of my gynecologist trying to do it herself in a regular clinic.

Since you are sexually active, it shouldn't hurt. But I have heard that it's uncomfortable for women that aren't virgins.


Ugh...that does NOT inspire confidence at all!! !

But maybe now because I have had sex and experienced penetration the Pap smear won't be so bad?



Coilette_91
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21 Aug 2025, 7:52 pm

Mikurotoro92 wrote:
Coilette_91 wrote:
I had gotten my first pap smear done a couple of years ago while in my 30s and it was absolutely painful. But I believe it's because I've never been sexually active so them prodding around down there hurt me a lot. I even had to get my IUD surgically implanted under anesthesia because I couldn't take the pain of my gynecologist trying to do it herself in a regular clinic.

Since you are sexually active, it shouldn't hurt. But I have heard that it's uncomfortable for women that aren't virgins.


Ugh...that does NOT inspire confidence at all!! !

But maybe now because I have had sex and experienced penetration the Pap smear won't be so bad?


Probably won't be


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Mikurotoro92
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21 Aug 2025, 9:37 pm

Coilette_91 wrote:
Mikurotoro92 wrote:
Coilette_91 wrote:
I had gotten my first pap smear done a couple of years ago while in my 30s and it was absolutely painful. But I believe it's because I've never been sexually active so them prodding around down there hurt me a lot. I even had to get my IUD surgically implanted under anesthesia because I couldn't take the pain of my gynecologist trying to do it herself in a regular clinic.

Since you are sexually active, it shouldn't hurt. But I have heard that it's uncomfortable for women that aren't virgins.


Ugh...that does NOT inspire confidence at all!! !

But maybe now because I have had sex and experienced penetration the Pap smear won't be so bad?


Probably won't be


As in "it probably shouldn't hurt" or "it probably should?

If my body allows sexual penetration then it should be able to handle a Pap smear test!! !

Although isn't a Pap smear DEEP penetration?

Because they have to reach the cervix

I will still look into sedation and anesthesia, but I would think a Pap Smear is nowhere near as painful as childbirth which thankfully my body rejected!

I recently was VERY constipated and was dealing with awful pooping contractions which I believe is exactly what labor contractions are like :cry:

I hated it so I'm never having my own kids unless it's either through a surrogate or adoption/foster care!



Last edited by Mikurotoro92 on 21 Aug 2025, 10:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Coilette_91
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21 Aug 2025, 10:23 pm

Mikurotoro92 wrote:
As in "it probably shouldn't hurt" or "it probably should?

If my body allows sexual penetration then it should be able to handle a Pap smear test!! !



I meant it probably won't hurt for you since you're sexually active. I'm not, so it hurts for me.


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Mikurotoro92
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21 Aug 2025, 10:41 pm

Coilette_91 wrote:
Mikurotoro92 wrote:
As in "it probably shouldn't hurt" or "it probably should?

If my body allows sexual penetration then it should be able to handle a Pap smear test!! !



I meant it probably won't hurt for you since you're sexually active. I'm not, so it hurts for me.


Oh okay, that makes sense since you aren't used to being penetrated "down there"! !!

The Pap test would DEFINITELY be more painful for someone without sexual experience (virgin)!

Thanks for the clarification



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21 Aug 2025, 11:08 pm

Mikurotoro92 wrote:
I have an upcoming appointment to get a Pap smear test and it fills me with anxiety! ! !

I am afraid it will hurt and I'm afraid of the results!

I know the procedure is VERY quick and relatively painless but I don't like even doctors looking at my private parts (which means I will NOT be having children unless it's through a surrogate!) because it's invasive

What should I do about this?!?

Can I decline the exam if I REALLY don't want it?

Or...will this screening determine if I can handle childbirth?

What is more painful:

-a Pap Smear

or

-Giving birth?

Also I heard that sedation and anesthesia is possible with a Pap test so that might be something worth looking into!


I mean you could skip the appointment, but you shouldn't it is good to get a checkup down there from time to time and to be honest I am probably due for one but I'm not anxious about it just lazy. But yeah, they don't really hurt all that much more just a bit uncomfortable.

From what I read they don't generally do anesthesia for the procedure. But idk basically they put a speculum in to open it up a little and do sort of a swab, you feel a little pressure and maybe a little pinch for like a second but it's not severe and goes away pretty quick.

For sure giving birth would more painful than a pap smear, so your reaction to a pap-smear is unlikely to determine how you'd handle giving birth.


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Mikurotoro92
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22 Aug 2025, 12:07 am

Sweetleaf wrote:
Mikurotoro92 wrote:
I have an upcoming appointment to get a Pap smear test and it fills me with anxiety! ! !

I am afraid it will hurt and I'm afraid of the results!

I know the procedure is VERY quick and relatively painless but I don't like even doctors looking at my private parts (which means I will NOT be having children unless it's through a surrogate!) because it's invasive

What should I do about this?!?

Can I decline the exam if I REALLY don't want it?

Or...will this screening determine if I can handle childbirth?

What is more painful:

-a Pap Smear

or

-Giving birth?

Also I heard that sedation and anesthesia is possible with a Pap test so that might be something worth looking into!


I mean you could skip the appointment, but you shouldn't it is good to get a checkup down there from time to time and to be honest I am probably due for one but I'm not anxious about it just lazy. But yeah, they don't really hurt all that much more just a bit uncomfortable.

From what I read they don't generally do anesthesia for the procedure. But idk basically they put a speculum in to open it up a little and do sort of a swab, you feel a little pressure and maybe a little pinch for like a second but it's not severe and goes away pretty quick.

For sure giving birth would more painful than a pap smear, so your reaction to a pap-smear is unlikely to determine how you'd handle giving birth.


The only way to skip the appointment is to somehow end up sick on that day because Cathy won't let me back out!! !

Is the pinch caused by the speculum?

Yep birth is 100% worse than a pap-smear without a doubt!



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22 Aug 2025, 1:44 am

Mikurotoro92 wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
Mikurotoro92 wrote:
I have an upcoming appointment to get a Pap smear test and it fills me with anxiety! ! !

I am afraid it will hurt and I'm afraid of the results!

I know the procedure is VERY quick and relatively painless but I don't like even doctors looking at my private parts (which means I will NOT be having children unless it's through a surrogate!) because it's invasive

What should I do about this?!?

Can I decline the exam if I REALLY don't want it?

Or...will this screening determine if I can handle childbirth?

What is more painful:

-a Pap Smear

or

-Giving birth?

Also I heard that sedation and anesthesia is possible with a Pap test so that might be something worth looking into!


I mean you could skip the appointment, but you shouldn't it is good to get a checkup down there from time to time and to be honest I am probably due for one but I'm not anxious about it just lazy. But yeah, they don't really hurt all that much more just a bit uncomfortable.

From what I read they don't generally do anesthesia for the procedure. But idk basically they put a speculum in to open it up a little and do sort of a swab, you feel a little pressure and maybe a little pinch for like a second but it's not severe and goes away pretty quick.

For sure giving birth would more painful than a pap smear, so your reaction to a pap-smear is unlikely to determine how you'd handle giving birth.


The only way to skip the appointment is to somehow end up sick on that day because Cathy won't let me back out!! !

Is the pinch caused by the speculum?

Yep birth is 100% worse than a pap-smear without a doubt!


No, not in my experience, they do put lubrication on it so it goes in smoothly, it just feels a bit odd. Its when they take the sample, that could hurt a little but its very quick...and for me it seemed more like just a weird little pressure for a second, not like a painful pinch.

It's sort of like if you've ever gone to the doctor with a sore throat and they swab it to get a sample, or if you ever did one of those self covid test were you have to stick a q-tip looking thing deep in your nose to get a mucous sample to test. Just kind of weird feeling, but not particularly painful.


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Mikurotoro92
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22 Aug 2025, 5:07 pm

Sweetleaf wrote:
No, not in my experience, they do put lubrication on it so it goes in smoothly, it just feels a bit odd. Its when they take the sample, that could hurt a little but its very quick...and for me it seemed more like just a weird little pressure for a second, not like a painful pinch.

It's sort of like if you've ever gone to the doctor with a sore throat and they swab it to get a sample, or if you ever did one of those self covid test were you have to stick a q-tip looking thing deep in your nose to get a mucous sample to test. Just kind of weird feeling, but not particularly painful.


Okay that makes me feel better!! !

I have done the self COVID test so if a pap smear is similar to that then it shouldn't be too bad!



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22 Aug 2025, 6:32 pm

Let us know how you got on.


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Mikurotoro92
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22 Aug 2025, 7:22 pm

Okay



Mikurotoro92
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26 Aug 2025, 12:08 am

Do I need to be concerned about vaginal tearing with a Pap Smear?!?

How is the speculum inserted?



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26 Aug 2025, 6:34 am

You won’t have to worry about vaginal tearing. The speculum is inserted gently and with lubricant while it is closed. It is slowly opened once it’s inside. I think they feel uncomfortable, but they won’t cause tearing or anything like that. Likely being able to relax (i.e. be less tense) would make them feel less uncomfortable.



Mikurotoro92
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28 Aug 2025, 9:13 pm

So the speculum is inserted while closed into the vagina then they gently open it to swab the cervix?