Welcome to the board

I am sorry to hear you have had a negative experience, I hope in time you will not have to have your smears so often and you will be able to relax more to make things easier on you.

Take care

Sarah

I had an "borderline" smear a few years ago, and even though it wasn't abnormal as such as was yours Pixie, it was a scary experience so i can vaguely imagine what you must have been thinking. It cleared itself up, and last week I had my last "yearly" smear and can just have them every three years now, as long as this one is ok.

I can't say smears are the most comfortable of things to go through, but they are well worth the discomfort and embarrassment. The nurses at my local surgery are lovely, and they have to go through exactly the same so they know what we are going through!

Also, I would definitely advise people to go in the middle sometime, between periods, as the nurse was between my legs for about 10 minutes as she couldn't find my cervix!! Apparently it moves as to where you are on your cycle (I was a few days off my period so it wasn't easy to locate!). Never knew this!

She also told me that they are planning to increase the age of your first smear to 25, as 99% of smears for women under this age are fine, or clear up on their own. I'm not sure if this would be a good idea or not, personally I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Laura

Welcome to the board

I am glad things have turned out ok for you. HPV can often show up during a cervical smear test and it is often suprising how many women are infected and don't know. I believe doctors are investigating to see if there is a link between Cervical Cancer and HPV.

Do you now have to have a yearly smear test due to having abnormal cells found in the past?

Your right it is nothing to be ashamed of, I try to raise awareness amoungst the women I meet through work on this topic and it is truely amasing how embarrased they are even though it is natural to look after your health and should be encouraged.