smear test tomorrow....im soooooo embassed

[gingerflaps]

help me plz, im goin 4 a smear test tomorow and i dont know if i should wear a skirt for easyness or trousers, my legs have a rash on them at the mo from dodgy soap powder so its gonna look rank with my rashy legs out....do any of u go wearing trousers and is it less ambassing takin them off, i went about 3 yrs ago and wore a skirt. i am so scared and embarresed, i dont like anyone lookin down there

[Hgrove]

Years ago I went to a family planning clinic - can't remember what for exactly - and the stupid doctor (a woman!) told me off for wearing trousers! She said even if it only takes me 3 mins to take them off, as she has to see about 60 women a day, that's 3 hours wasted!  I found that comment degrading to me as a woman.  I felt treated like butcher's meat.  However - in most cases I don't think it makes one iota of difference what you're wearing.  The old advice - like back and think of England - applies here.

[Scarlett]

It is not the most pleasant way to spend time I know, but wear a skirt, chat away to the nurse and just remember that you are having a really humdrum, run of the mill procedure done. The nurse spends hours and hours doing this, and really will not care what your bits (or anyone else's) look like. She has a job to do, to collect the sample, and will be far more concerned about getting her part of the job done properly than anything else! don't worry. And arrange to do something nice afterwards- go shopping in Monsoon or go out for dinner!!!

[kazza55]

Scarlett is right. It is not the most enjoyable experience for any women having a smear test. It is  important to have this done though, (think of it as part of your body MOT) and the nurse will make you feel more at ease and relaxed about it once you are about have the sample taken.

Believe me, we are all different shapes and sizes and the nurses perform these procedures all the time.It will be over before you know it and you will wonder what you were so worried about!

I don't think it matters what you wear. As long as you are comfortable. I usually wear jeans and a longish top to these. Hope this helps put your mind at rest a bit!!

[Philtaz]

Try not to worry about it too much.  My wife works as a practice nurse in the gynaecology clinic and she says it doesn't matter a jot what you wear.  Don't worry about your legs, they are far too interested in the job at hand to worry about things like that.

Usually, my wife tells the ladies to relax(easy to say whilst you are in that position I know!) and just daydream about being on a beach somewhere.

People do get embarrassed, it's only natural but the staff there have done the procedure literally thousands of times and will do their level best to put you at ease.

Best of luck.

[shaz-rla]

I don't think it matters what you wear - our surgery lets you get undressed without the nurse and lie on the bed with a blanket over you and she comes back in then (from behind a curtain!). They see all sorts and don't (shouldn't) make any comment on your privates Hgrove did you say anything to the doctor about her appaling bedside manner? - I would have been furious!

[angel1978]

Bit late for your appointment but if you're nervous, one of the best pieces of advice I was ever given to "untense" was to relax my jaw.

When you tense up you tend to almost clamp your teeth and by relaxing your jaw it tends to relax your body and make it a bit easier.

Also concentrating on doing this tends to take your mind off what's going on.