Some people find smear tests a bit more uncomfortable if they have a tilted cervix, and sometimes it can be painful. But it's simple to make it better.
For lots of women and people with a cervix, smear tests (cervical screening) are something that might feel a bit uncomfortable or embarrassing, but is over and done with quickly. But, for some with conditions such as endometriosis, a smear test can be more painful and can be a really daunting prospect.
Weakening of the pelvic muscles: After menopause or childbirth, the ligaments supporting the uterus can become lax or weakened. As a result, the uterus falls in a backward or tipped position. Enlarged uterus: An enlarged uterus due to pregnancy, fibroids, or a tumor can also cause the uterus to become tilted.
If your practitioner has told you that you have a tilted uterus (meaning that your uterus is naturally tilted toward your spine, not your belly button), doggy style (on your hands and knees, with penetration from behind) might be the ticket.
A retroverted uterus has no effect on your ability to get pregnant. And it very rarely has any effect on pregnancy, labor, or birth. Most often an inverted uterus will correct itself by the second trimester, as it grows. After delivery, it may or may not return to its retroverted position.
Avoid intercourse, douching, or using any vaginal medicines or spermicidal foams, creams or jellies for two days before having a Pap smear, as these may wash away or obscure abnormal cells. Try not to schedule a Pap smear during your menstrual period. It's best to avoid this time of your cycle, if possible.
Does a speculum hurt? It's common to feel discomfort or pressure when your healthcare provider inserts the speculum and widens it, but it should never hurt.
Self-sampling enables women to collect their own sample for cervical screening without a speculum using a vaginal swab or brush. A drawback is the consistent finding that women worry about not self-sampling correctly.
The position of a uterus can vary from one woman to another. Most commonly, the uterus lies horizontally over the bladder, pointing toward your belly. A tilted uterus, however, angles back toward your rectum. About one-quarter of women have a tilted uterus.
It can feel like the tip of a nose with a dimple in the middle, and it kind of looks like a tiny donut. You can feel your cervix by gently putting one or two clean or gloved fingers deep into your vagina (make sure you don't have any sharp or jagged edges on your nails).
Patients often ask: Is retroverted uterus and back pain linked? Due to this condition putting more pressure on the bladder and thus the back, retroverted uterus and back pain are often associated together.
A Pap smear is very safe, and most people only experience mild cramping during the procedure. Some people experience more intense cramping that is similar to or worse than that during a period. Others may notice that the cramping lasts for 1–2 days after the test. There are typically no other side effects.
Discomfort and bleeding or cramping after a pap smear is normal because this area of our body is so sensitive. After a pap smear or pelvic exam, blood rushes to the cervix and your other reproductive organs. This is why the irritation and bleeding from the cervical scratch or scrape may occur.
Speak to the doctor or nurse about your concerns, letting them know if you have any relevant conditions or experiences that could make your smear more uncomfortable or painful. Ask to lie in a different position that's more comfortable. Ask for a smaller speculum. Ask for lubricant.
Applying a small amount of gel to the blades of a speculum before insertion won't alter test results—but will reduce the patient's discomfort.
Speculum lubrication has contributed to reducing discomfort during the examination. Health professionals should be encouraged to use a lubricant to conduct Pap smear screening increasing patient compliance.
Your nurse or doctor will use an instrument called a speculum (pronounced speck-you-lum) to gently open your vagina, so they can see your cervix (neck of your womb). They'll then use a small, soft brush to take a sample of cells from your cervix. They'll send this sample to a lab to be tested.
Should I have a shower before I get a smear test? Up to you! You don't have to, there is no medical reason that you should. Showering or not showering will not affect the test in any way.
In most cases, an abnormal Pap test is a result of: A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. A sexually transmitted infection (STI or STD), such as herpes or trichomoniasis. A bacterial or yeast infection.
Depending on your cervical position, your cervix should now be visible, or visible with minor adjustment of the speculum and/or mirror. Hint: it's the tiny, pink doughnut-looking body part.
Some women have pain during intercourse, have trouble getting pregnant or feel pressure on their bladder due to a tilted uterus. There is a nonintrusive, chiropractic adjustment to allow the uterus to go back into the proper position in the body.