Excruciating smear- is this normal?

Sounds like poor technique to me or it could be your age, as women get older and normal changes take place around and after menopause, smear tests can become intolerable, very painful, cause bleeding and a lot of soreness. (and a false positive is more likely)

You're probably having unnecessary smear tests like most women anyway, only women aged 30 to 60 who are HPV+ should be offered a 5 yearly smear test and you can test yourself for HPV easily and reliably with something like Tampap or the Delphi Screener.

You've probably been putting yourself through this testing for no good reason and of course, smear tests produce false positive results that can lead to excess colposcopy/biopy and over-treatment.

Only about 5% of women aged 30 to 60 are HPV+, these are the only women with a small chance of being helped by a smear test, the rest are risking their health having this test. (HPV-)

See the new Dutch program - HPV Today, Edition 24, sets out their new program, 5 HPV primary tests or HPV self testing at ages 30,35,40,50 and 60 and a 5 yearly smear test will only be offered to the roughly 5% who are HPV+

This will save more lives from this always fairly rare cancer (lifetime risk 0.65% and takes most women out of smear testing and harms way.

Hi Vicky i totaly sympathise with you, my last smear test was horrendous too, yet like you all pass ones were only uncomfortable but not painfull, The nurse who did this said she was left handed, i dont know why she mentioned this but i couldnt see what difference it made at the time. Well after a lot of pushing and twisting she said she cant find my cervix! She was pushing so hard that i could feel the speculum pressing against the opening to my bladder, i was clenching the side of the couch and vowed id never never have another one again and i havnt, Well accordsing to what Eliz has replied at 64 i shouldnt really need one anyway, ive had a letter invited me for another one, thanks but no thanks! and yes after the menapause it def gets sorer and more painfull too. Of course all my family are saying i should have it done. Sounds like with you Vicky she got it caught under your cervix, no way should it have been diffucult to get out, i really feel for you i do really do. You didnt give your age, are you pre or in the menapause stage or pass menapausal. I wouldnt worry  because it hirt it means something is wrong, it was how it was done that was wrong. Let us know how you get on.

Sue x

My smears have only been a bit uncomfortable up until the last one postmeno at which time I asked for a PEDIATRIC SPECULUM.  Made all the difference in the world!  Otherwise, she was able to "dig for oil" and I was pain free only getting a tiny spot of bleeding afterwards but that is because I have a friable cervix.