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Last week I received the letter, the letter I had heard of so many times but it had arrived – Please contact your GP to make an appointment for your cervical smear test. As soon as I opened the letter and saw these words I was immediately filled with anxiety and dread. I was not expecting this letter for another few months as I do not turn 25 until June. Yet here I was, with the letter in my hand. I then said to myself ‘I’ll make the appointment tomorrow’. I said this for a few days until I got my arse in gear and make the appointment.
Making the appointment.
I rang my surgery up in the morning to make the appointment. As I was waiting in the hold queue I thought to myself that I would probably be told to make the appointment in a few weeks or even months when I am closer to 25. I could not have been more wrong. When the receptionist answered she advised that it would be two weeks after the first day of my period. Fast huh?
Typically being myself, I made the mistake of thinking we were a week in the future when I made the appointment making it a week later than it should have been. I didn’t realise this until I had confirmed the appointment and ended the phone call. Fortunately, after an embarrassing phone call back I had managed to arrange it for the correct day. So there I had it, 9 days to go until the appointment.
Pre-appointment thoughts.
It has been a while since I have had anything invasive done, the last time was probably just after Poppy was born. I got pretty used to it towards the end of my pregnancy, well I wouldn’t really say used to it, more just expected and accepted that it was going to be invasive. However, that was a while ago and now I just need to get my head into that mindset again.
After reading the leaflet I do feel slightly better, knowing that the actual procedure will probably take two minutes. Still nervous, and probably will be even more towards the day.
Appointment day.
I made the appointment for 8.30AM so I didn’t have to sit around all day waiting nervously. I went to my surgery and the gates were closed, so instead of waiting near them anxiously, I took a walk around the corner until they opened. I was the only one in there when I went in, which was strange as whenever I’m in there usually it is super busy. After a few minutes waiting the buzzer went off and I was invited into the nurses room. The nurse explained the procedure to me and that it would take less than 2 minutes to complete. She also explained that you do usually get the letter six months before you turn 25 so I wasn’t too early to the appointment!
The procedure.
Ahh that dreaded part where you’re asked to strip your bottom half off and lie under the paper on the ‘bed’. The paper brought back memories of my pregnancy with so many times having to lie on those paper sheets that would get stuck to your arse or rip if you move slightly. Anyway, I stripped off my bottom half and lay on the bed with one sheet under me and one sheet over. Told to relax my legs down, the nurse put the speculum in me which was a bit uncomfortable but not at all painful. Then she went to swab my cervix which felt a bit like my stomach was getting a scratch on the inside, but again not in a painful way, just uncomfortable. Then voila, it was done, it took less than 2 minutes and didn’t hurt at all. The nurse then washed the swab brush in a specimen pot ready to be sent off for testing. I was then told it would probably take 6 weeks for the results to come back through to me so not to worry if I don’t hear anything for a while.
So overall it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be and I’m glad I went and got it done. If you want to find out more information on getting a cervical screening, head over to the NHS page about the procedure. If you’ve already been for a screening before, what was your experience like?
I found that reading blog posts about the bloggers’ smear test experience helped me feel more at ease about it. So I thought I may as well share my experience in case there is anyone who needs a read to feel a little more comfortable about the whole experience.
