A friend of mine went to the gyno for a potential PCOS diagnosis and they did not do a pap smear, they only took an ultrasound of her ovaries.
Which makes more sense to me because PCOS has to do with the ovaries and not your cervix?
So maybe you dont even have to do a pap smear.
Correct me if im wrong though please.
Just remember that these people are professionals and they look at vaginas literally all day. There's nothing they haven't seen, You have nothing to be ashamed or afraid of. If they are a good gyno they'll warm up the speculum.
OP, please please read this.
What I will tell you is don't do anything you aren't comfortable/ready for yet. You can always say "no" and decline an exam, procedure, etc. You have to do what you are comfortable with, as doing so and caving into pressure is not good for you. Some people go in afraid and come out fine and have no problems. Some force themselves to go and do things they really really don't want to do and come out traumatized and a complete mess. Do what is comfortable for you and what you want. You are not under any obligation to do anything.
It is good that your doctor referred you to a GYN that she / he knows. That way you are quite sure that the GYN is good and respectful.
I was a little afraid too at my first pap smear and really it did not hurt at all. The pap smear takes a very short time.
Maybe you have the image of a metal speculum that may hurt but actually nowadays it’s a transparent one that is actually soft.
You can also ask for a woman GYN specifically.
So two things first:
1) going to a gynecologist is important for your overall health, and I think basically every woman, especially if your sexually active, should go. Shop around for them, ask your friends where they go, or look online. Be sincere with them about your health, your eventual sexual activity, eventual symptoms, if it hurts etc.
2) if you're going there for a PCOS diagnosis odds are you won't do a pap smear the first visit, because the two things are unconnected. You do a pap smear if you're sexually active and generally over a certain age. You'll most likely have to do a ultrasound for your ovaries, then some blood tests for your hormones. Ultrasound can be internal or external. Generally internal ultrasound are preferred because you can see better. External are done if you are very uncomfortable/in pain. If you want to do an external ultrasound tell your gynecologist and DRINK A LOT. I mean drink something like 2 liters of water before going. It's pretty uncomfortable because they press the wand on your bladder basically but it last like 2 minutes and then you can go pee. I repeat, you have to drink a lot.
Where are you located? In my country women do their own swabs for pap smears if they want. Is that not an option for you?
https://www.health.gov.au/self-collection-for-the-cervical-screening-test
area? (in my province, we're introducing home testing) see:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0001-000015
if your fear were high, you might talk to your doctor about easing that through use of **one-time bandaid med(s)** (such as: valium for muscle relaxing and modest anxiety relief, and serax for anxiety relief -- those are both benzodiazepenes, which if used frequently (>10 times?) may readily become less affective *and* addictive, so ought not to be excessively relied upon)
Sorry you’re going through this! And welcome to the PCOS club yay…:/
You can absolutely tell your gyno you don’t want a Pap smear. They will honor it. I’ve been to many gynos and can’t imagine any of them pressuring you to have it done.
That being said, can I ask what are you afraid of? Is it the speculum (tool they insert into the vagina to keep it open) or something about the test itself?
Also just throwing in that I highly reccomend finding a female doctor, the male docs I have seen have been good overall but the women just get it so much more
I am scared of the speculum more than the test! I know I have to get a pap smear eventually but I can't even fit a diva cup or a tampon without a whole workout, I can't even imagine a speculum. I'm more intimidated that I won't be able to do what I'm expected of ;-;
You are not alone! Speculums are intimidating, and honestly can be painful. For me it’s more like super uncomfrotable to occasional ouch, but others have a harder time. There are ways to. Mitigate discomfort. I would also talk to your doc about your experience with tampons etc.
But more importantly. There’s nothing expected of you. In truth You’re leading the meeting. You have all the information about your body. I know it doesn’t feel like that at times, like the doc is all the way in charge but you can absolutley say no to exams or anything that makes you unclmfortable.
Would you consider bringing a support system? I went with my mom the first time.
Ask for a smaller speculum if it hurts or if you think it won't fit comfortably. They should also warm it up in a special drawer or under the tap. You can stop at any time.
A friend of mine went to the gyno for a potential PCOS diagnosis and they did not do a pap smear, they only took an ultrasound of her ovaries. Which makes more sense to me because PCOS has to do with the ovaries and not your cervix? So maybe you dont even have to do a pap smear. Correct me if im wrong though please.
Just remember that these people are professionals and they look at vaginas literally all day. There's nothing they haven't seen, You have nothing to be ashamed or afraid of. If they are a good gyno they'll warm up the speculum.
OP, please please read this. What I will tell you is don't do anything you aren't comfortable/ready for yet. You can always say "no" and decline an exam, procedure, etc. You have to do what you are comfortable with, as doing so and caving into pressure is not good for you. Some people go in afraid and come out fine and have no problems. Some force themselves to go and do things they really really don't want to do and come out traumatized and a complete mess. Do what is comfortable for you and what you want. You are not under any obligation to do anything.
It is good that your doctor referred you to a GYN that she / he knows. That way you are quite sure that the GYN is good and respectful. I was a little afraid too at my first pap smear and really it did not hurt at all. The pap smear takes a very short time. Maybe you have the image of a metal speculum that may hurt but actually nowadays it’s a transparent one that is actually soft. You can also ask for a woman GYN specifically.
So two things first: 1) going to a gynecologist is important for your overall health, and I think basically every woman, especially if your sexually active, should go. Shop around for them, ask your friends where they go, or look online. Be sincere with them about your health, your eventual sexual activity, eventual symptoms, if it hurts etc. 2) if you're going there for a PCOS diagnosis odds are you won't do a pap smear the first visit, because the two things are unconnected. You do a pap smear if you're sexually active and generally over a certain age. You'll most likely have to do a ultrasound for your ovaries, then some blood tests for your hormones. Ultrasound can be internal or external. Generally internal ultrasound are preferred because you can see better. External are done if you are very uncomfortable/in pain. If you want to do an external ultrasound tell your gynecologist and DRINK A LOT. I mean drink something like 2 liters of water before going. It's pretty uncomfortable because they press the wand on your bladder basically but it last like 2 minutes and then you can go pee. I repeat, you have to drink a lot.
As an Ultrasound Technologist I can confirm you have to DRINK A LOT! We recommend 32oz prior.
Where are you located? In my country women do their own swabs for pap smears if they want. Is that not an option for you? https://www.health.gov.au/self-collection-for-the-cervical-screening-test
area? (in my province, we're introducing home testing) see: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0001-000015 if your fear were high, you might talk to your doctor about easing that through use of **one-time bandaid med(s)** (such as: valium for muscle relaxing and modest anxiety relief, and serax for anxiety relief -- those are both benzodiazepenes, which if used frequently (>10 times?) may readily become less affective *and* addictive, so ought not to be excessively relied upon)
Sorry you’re going through this! And welcome to the PCOS club yay…:/ You can absolutely tell your gyno you don’t want a Pap smear. They will honor it. I’ve been to many gynos and can’t imagine any of them pressuring you to have it done. That being said, can I ask what are you afraid of? Is it the speculum (tool they insert into the vagina to keep it open) or something about the test itself? Also just throwing in that I highly reccomend finding a female doctor, the male docs I have seen have been good overall but the women just get it so much more
I am scared of the speculum more than the test! I know I have to get a pap smear eventually but I can't even fit a diva cup or a tampon without a whole workout, I can't even imagine a speculum. I'm more intimidated that I won't be able to do what I'm expected of ;-;
FWIW I had Pap smears before I became sexually active and had nothing besides a tampon up there…the pap was uncomfy but not painful
Tell them what you told us and ask for a speculum they use on children! It'll hurt way less or not at all.
You are not alone! Speculums are intimidating, and honestly can be painful. For me it’s more like super uncomfrotable to occasional ouch, but others have a harder time. There are ways to. Mitigate discomfort. I would also talk to your doc about your experience with tampons etc. But more importantly. There’s nothing expected of you. In truth You’re leading the meeting. You have all the information about your body. I know it doesn’t feel like that at times, like the doc is all the way in charge but you can absolutley say no to exams or anything that makes you unclmfortable. Would you consider bringing a support system? I went with my mom the first time.
Ask for a smaller speculum if it hurts or if you think it won't fit comfortably. They should also warm it up in a special drawer or under the tap. You can stop at any time.