Student Life | Issue 40

said was something they normally
do with your first smear test and
then work their way up to the longer
one if needed. It also helps if you’re
a bit nervous about the ‘pain’ or
uncomfortable feeling if you have
the smaller one used first. The nurse
attempted three times to use the
smaller one with no success of being
able to locate my cervix, this was
probably the most uncomfortable
part of the whole procedure but it
definitely didn’t hurt so don’t let this
point put you off at all. In the end
the nurse ended up using the longer
speculum which most people will
have used during their smear test,
it makes it easier for the nurse to
locate the cervix and then take the
swab. The speculum is inserted with a
little bit of KY jelly lubricant so it goes
in smoothly and as comfortably as
possible. I heard from a lot of people
that the taking of the swab can be
the most uncomfortable part of the
smear test and can often cause you
to bleed a few hours after. They twist
the soft headed almost silicone feel
brush 5 times in order to get the best
sample for the test and then pop the
brush in a pot of liquid which is then
sealed and sent for testing. I honestly
only felt the brush once when the
nurse was collecting the sample and
I didn’t experience any bleeding or
light blotting after my test at all. The
speculum was then slowly removed
and I was left to get dressed and
ready to leave. All in all, I was in the
appointment for no more than 15
minutes in total and the test only took
around 5 minutes from start to finish
but would have been even shorter
if there wasn’t an issue with the
speculum at first.
The nurse told me I was going to
receive my results in two weeks and if
anything irregular showed up I would
be contacted and asked to come in
for a further appointment. She did
put emphasis on the fact that even
though some irregularities may show
up that it’s not necessarily a bad thing
or something to be worried about. I
haven’t obviously received my results
yet but I will be sure to either update
this post, write a follow up or mention
it on my Instagram.
Comparing how I felt before the
smear test and after the test is a
complete contrast and just goes to
show how our minds like to make
something out to be worse than it
might be. I felt absolutely fine after
my smear test and a definite sigh
of relief...I even treated myself to a
coffee and McDonalds which helped
me get through the smear test too ha.
USEFUL LINKS
NHS cervical screening information - nhs.
uk/conditions/cervical-screening/
Zoe Sugg’s cervical screening vlog found
via YouTube
Macmillan cancer support smear test
information - macmillan.org.uk/cancerinformation-and-support/diagnostic-tests/
smear-test
Brogan Tate & Bianca smear story found via
YouTube
43 43 •• MARCH ISSUE 2019 40 •• STUDENT LIFE LIFE