i have to get a PAP smear done and it's my first one...?

Question

i'm a little nervious and what should i expect?

Answer 1

I had my first one a year ago. It was a little nervewracking, but I survived. The longest part was waiting for the doctor to actually come in. The nurse took me in the room, asked me a million questions (be honest answering them!!!!), explained what the doctor was going to do, explained birth control options, left the room and told me to undress from the waist down, but leave my top and bra on and to unhook my bra. I waited on the little table for what felt like hours, but was probably only minutes. The doctor and nurse came in and he introduced himself and we talked a few minutes. Then the nurse stood by my head while he did his thing. He washed his hands and put gloves on, asked me to scoot to the edge of the table (I felt like I was gonna fall off the end), examined the outside of my downstairs, poked around on my belly, then he lubed up the speculum and inserted it into me. I'll admit, I jumped a little because it was cold and akward. Then he used a "cervix brush" to get samples from my cervix. It didn't hurt, but it felt really weird. The brush goes through the cervical opening to get samples from the inside of the cervix. A second sample is then collected from the outside of the cervix. The samples are smeared on a slide to be sent to the lab for examination. The speculum came out and he did the bimanual (both hands) exam. This involves the doctor inserting two fingers of one hand inside the vaginal canal while feeling the ovaries and uterus with the other hand on top of the belly. Hopefully you don't have bad gas or nervous gas that day while they're pressin on your belly. lol. There was a breast exam somewhere in there. I can't remember if it was before or after all the poking and prodding downstairs. It's weird having a stranger poke and prod around your boobs. But you'll live through it. Trust me. After reading all this it probably seems like it takes forever! But it doesn't. It only took about 15 minutes with the doctor....10 of those minutes were talking and 5 were the actual examination. And always remember that the doctor is supposed to say "Let your legs fall apart." If he says "Spread your legs" you can sue him or something for sexual harassment or whatever. If you have a male doctor make sure there's a female nurse in the room with you. If you have a female doctor then you should probably be alone. If you're a virgin it will probably be a little painful when the speculum and fingers are in you because it will stretch you. If you are too uncomfortable ask the nurse to hold your hand and she will. Or, ball your hands into fists and hold them at your side and grit your teeth or whatever makes you feel better. When the doc and nurse leave the room you get dressed and head out to the receptionist desk. Now, one thing no one warned me about that I'll warn you....either take a pad or be prepared to wipe a little before you put your undies back on. My doctor got a little messy with the lube down there and when I stood up I could feel it oozing out. It was gross. So I had to use a few paper towels to wipe most of it away, but there was still alot that got all over my underwear on the way home. I wished I had a panty liner or something. So there it is. It's not as bad as it sounds, honest. Make sure you ask the doctor any questions. Don't be embarassed to ask anything. He/She's heard it all before. You can also ask about and shots you should get to prevent disease and have them show you how to perform a self breast exam if you don't already know. And remember to go at least once a year. Most people schedule their appointments around their birthday so they don't forget them. Hopefully it goes smoothly for you and you shouldn't get any surprises. Good luck and you'll be ok! I hope this was informative and helped you relax a little!

Answer 2

Good girl.It good for you....the more anal you about regular PAP's the better it is for you to escape cervical cancer.
I suggest you are a teenager. Possibly not a virgin though. If you are not while you getting your PAP done you can ask for pelvic exam too. You might as well. I get checked every 4-5 month and i get both things done at once.
Also when get out there all she or he going to do is put this thingie in there and lock it in place so your cervix is visible to doc. Once that looks good, she will take a long q-tip looking stick and just take a sample of your cervix discharge. It is very painless but may be slight uncomfortable because it can give you a slightly uncomfortable sensation where it will feel like something pulling on your cervix. It may seem like a pressure in your abdomen. Trust me its only for a sec. Not trying to scare you but if you keep your breathing steady you will be just fine.

Answer 3

The doctor will ask you some questions, take your medical history, listen to your heart & lungs, then ask you to undress and put on a gown.

When he/she comes back in, you'll lay down, and you'll get a breast exam done (to check for lumps). This is an EXCELLENT time to ask how to do it properly. Most breast lumps are self-detected.

Then he/she will press on your abdomen and maybe listen with a stethoscope. Then you'll put your feet in the stirrups, they'll take a look at the external genitalia, then you'll have a speculum inserted to open your vaginal canal. Next they'll do a visual inspection of your cervix and vaginal canal and then take a small sample of surface cells from your cervix (called a PAP smear) to test for pre-cancerous lesions. Next, they'll remove the speculum, and insert two fingers into the vagina, and press down on you lower abdomen to feel for your fundus (top of the uterus) and ovaries to make sure there aren't any lumps that shouldn't be there.

Then that's it. Start to finish, it should be less than 20 minutes. Be sure to ask ALL of your questions while you have your doctor there with you.

Also, if you're not currently sexually active, NOW is the time to get the new HPV vaccine - it is made to help prevent cervical cancer but must be administered before you start having sex.

Answer 4

I was nervous too and its not that bad..the whole exam will be over in about 5 minutes..the pap smear just involves scraping of the uterus cells to make sure there is no cancer or anything..it feels a little weird but doesn't hurt..you'll be fine!

Answer 5

Pap Smears are very uncomfortable but nothing to be nervous about. You'll lay down on the doctor's tables and he or she will have you but your legs up and spread the them open and then they well take a tool thingy that helps them keep your opening open and then they take the test thingy and scrape the inside and then your done. It's PAINLESS. Helpful hint stare at the ceiling.

Answer 6

I had my first one just a year ago. It is very scary at first letting someone strange poke around you. My suggestion is take deep breaths and go to the restroom before you go. In a PAP, they scrape "inside that special area" to get a sample of tissue to test. If you have not had sex, it may hurt a bit because they stretch on you a little but if you tell them it's your first time, they will be very gentle. It just feels like cramping, pretty much. They may also check for lumps in your breasts & as far as I remember, that's pretty much it. It's brief and a little awkward, but they understand you being nervous.

Answer 7

it's never as bad as people make out. Don't be nervous or embarrased. Nurses have seen it all before. They will get you to go behind a curtain and take your trousers and your underwear off and lie on a bed, then the nurse will ask you to put your feet together and open your knees. she will insert a instrument that opens your cervix, it doesn't hurt, it's just a bit cold! then she will take a swob. this tends to be uncomfortable but isn't painful. Then it's all over. dont worry, its not as bad as its sounds.

Answer 8

it is not that bad. be honest with your doctor. it only takes 15 minutes if even. i was nervous to my first time, but it is nothing to worry about. if you have used a tampon before or have had sex your will be okay.

Answer 9

Ah, don't worry! Try to relax, think about something else, or just start asking questions from your doctor. Oh, don't forget it: Relax your butt, don't pull it together etc...makes harder to check you out....relax muscles!
Oh, don't forget it PAPsmear is important, saved my life! -Cervical Cancer.