Pap exams = Pain?

Question

I'm going for my first gynecological visit next week.

Nobody seems to want to be frank with me on whether it hurts or not. They avoid the subject.

Give me all the details, I'm nervous. :)

Answer 1

Not a big deal at all. I work in ob/gyn. Here's what will happen.

You will sign in and fill out a questionnaire. Know when you had your very first period. Also know the date of the first day of your last period. How many pregnancies. Family history; cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.
Dates of past surgeries.

Next you will be taken to an exam room. Your height and weight will be measured. You may be asked to give a urine sample. Sometimes, you will give a tiny blood sample with a finger prick. Your blood pressure will be taken.

You will be asked to change into a gown. Remove everything but your socks.

You will set on an exam table and the doctor will enter, introduce herself and discuss your questionnaire with you and ask you about any problems or concerns you have. She will listen to your heart and lungs and possibly feel your glands. You will then lie back on the table. Your doctor will conduct a breast exam, uncovering one breast at a time. She will then palpate your abdomen. Next you will slide down on the table and place your feet in stirrups. The doctor will perform a digital (finger) exam with one hand and the other hand will press on your pelvis. She is feeling your uterus and ovaries, checking for masses. Next she will insert a speculum into the vagina. A speculum is a metal or plastic "shoe horn" type instruments that is slid into the vagina and screwed open, so the doctor can gain access to the cervix. She will insert another instrument, which is long and thin which takes a small sample of your cervical tissues. The only discomfort comes from the speculum, which is can be a little pinchy and stretchy. But nothing major. About like wearing shoes two sizes two small (but since it is the vagina... it feels more urgent). She will then remove the speculum and the exam is done!

She will discuss her preliminary findings with you. And you will be called with the results of the pap smear (If you are not called, make sure you call them)

You should also have more time to talk to your doctor at the end of your exam.

I know you are nervous. That's natural. But believe me.... we look at the body completely in a diagnostic manner. We've seen every body type, and heard every possible story. By the time your doctor has seen you "down there" she has already seen thousands of other women. So don't be shy

Answer 2

No reason to be nervous no pain should be felt. Avoid sex the night before. Do not go during your period. You lay down with your legs flexed and doc sticks a applicator up that looks like a q tip. They also do a breast exam and will answer any questions you have. Feel free to ask about sex, birth control etc they hear it all. If you are really nervous remind them that it is your first time also if you feel more comfortable you can rec quest to have a nurse in the room. Do not be nervous it is not as bad as it seems and they maintain your privacy pretty well to. Good luck you will do fine!!

Answer 3

It doesn't hurt but it can be physically uncomfortable and a little awkward. There really isn't much to tell. You get on the table, put your feet where they tell you and scoot down to the edge of the table. Then the doctor will look at your vagina and insert a speculum to get better access. Then she will take a long swab and rub it on your cervix to collect cells for testing. It's not painful just hard and sometimes cold. Try your best to relax because when you're too nervous your muscles tense up and you'll feel it more.

Answer 4

No, it's not painful, but it is uncomfortable. After all, someone will be closely examining your vagina.

First, make sure your OB/GYN knows this is your first exam. Ask him/her to explain the steps as s/he does them. Ask them to let you know if something is going to feel odd, pinch, etc. Ask him/her to let you know if one of the instruments will be cold (some feel cold even when they're not, just because room temperature is less than the temperature of your body). Aslo, if you think you'll feel odd with a male doctor, ask for a female instead. I've never had a problem with either but when I first started going, I preferred a female doctor. Lastly, if you have questions, write them down now, because you might forget them when you get there due to nerves. You only get a few minutes with your doctor, so use them wisely!

I hope this helps. :)

Answer 5

Honestly I was afraid that it would hurt because everyone told me it would. Basically all you feel is something cold and hard and you might flinch at first but it's basically pressure. It basically just feels like someone made a fist and is pressing down on you. I really didn't have a problem with it like i thought i would. You shouldn't be in pain. good luck.

Answer 6

It's not pain free and it's not really painful per se. It's just uncomfortable and lasts about 30 seconds. Most doctors are good about getting it done and over with. It's just once a year and millions of other women do it, so you can do it.

Answer 7

Nothing to be nervous about. I'm not going to go into details here but it's not painful. Google pap smear and see if you can find what you want.

Answer 8

Paps should not be painful, when they scrape the cervix, it is uncomfortable, tell the doctor, and he/she will walk you through everything they will do, before it is done. Good Luck!

Answer 9

hello. Are you a virgin? if you are then i dont think you should do a pap exam. but if u aint, then the exam is not painful, it is just a bit uncomfy. before they insert the thing inside you, just take a deep breath, it helps. its pretty fast. dont worry.

Answer 10

......It shouldn't hurt too much, you should just feel uncomfortable, if they use clamps to keep you open this might be cold and uncomfortable and when they scrape it's a little uncomfortable but generally it shouldn't hurt. Good luck they are normally a breeze, just shut your eyes if you need to.