1. Community
  2. Women's health
  3. Cervical Smear and Disorders

Being a registered nurse I can understand the clincial s...

Posted , 2 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Being a registered nurse I can understand the clincial side and also having been a patient with a previous history of CIN 3, I understand a patients reluctance to lie back and with legs open, have an instrument inserted into their vagina. Lack of privacy has to be of major concern, as most of the time patients do not have any covering to protect them, I know this was certainly a problem for me and one I always try to remedy for my patients. I realise most Professionals do try to put their patients at ease, but again some do not. As well, the procedure is often not fully explained to the patient and their concerns or questions answered comprehensively. Making a woman feel relaxed and comfortable during this time may help lessen the anxiety felt during this procedure.

[i:73a29033b0]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:73a29033b0]

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    totally agree about privacy, but more so with the letter they send. Also women wouldn't feel quite so exposed if the medical books keep giving unrealistic idealised drawings of our genitalia. My labia are large and like an orchid and I have a large clit, which my boyfriend loves of course. If family medical books show a baby born as a photo, why can't they give actual photos of women's genitals and stop using drawings, and show true variety?

    [i:7cafc66a96]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:7cafc66a96]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    acceptable to me

    [i:dcd819b195]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:dcd819b195]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I don't understand this myth medics like to spread that a 'covering' somehow protects a patient & their privacy. It does nothing of the sort. The medic is still going to see and feel just as much as they would without the blanket there. It's a mind trick to put you at ease for a test every women should quite rightly feel upset about and shouldn't do.

    [i:d5141a3b7a]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:d5141a3b7a]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    My wife was tramarised by one of the doctors she saw. she now insistes that i sit with her when she has her smear most staff are fine about this. Althow some are happy to take her blood preasure but not her smear dose any one know why this could be?[/b]
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I totally agree about the exposure, my first smear was so tense, not because I was scared of my body, or the procedure, having used tampons etc... but because I felt my genitals were more florid than these awful neat drawings in textbooks and family medical books. It's that comparison that makes one feel more embarrassed than ever and wondering how you compare to other women and how any other variations the nurse has seen.

    It may be normal for the nurses but not for us. Why can't books show photos of genitalia, as they show photos of childbirth? I have longer inner labia and a large clitoris as the other message also said, so these neat model drawings are useless.

  • katie.k.
    katie.k.

    Posted

    Yes, I totally agree that female genitalia should be recognised as varying enormously .... and that everyone is in fact normal .... we don't all go round with the same nose for goodness sake.

    What really infuriates me is the various porn magazines that show women with neat little labia and clitoris. A considerable number of these women have actually had things surgically 'tidied up' down there, either that or air-brushed to perfection. No wonder so many of us feel we are abnormal or unattractive in that region.

    Smear tests are embarrassing but vital in picking up early signs of cervical cancer so should never be avoided. A vagina is simply just another orifice as far as doctors and nurses are concerned and I promise you we have seen all shapes and sizes ..... we are only interested in carrying out the procedure involved, not worrying about what anyone looks like 'down there'.

    I do hope there will soon be another less intrusive way of taking a smear because it really worries me that so many women refuse to have it done due to embarrassment.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.