How to deal with cervical screenings...

Hi. I'm new to this community so something like this may have already been discussed, but I am 25 and received the letter for cervical screening a few months ago. I have been terrified of the thought of it ever since I learned that it was something that is offered. 

With me, I have the following challenges due to being autistic: 

- Low pain tolerance

- Hypersensitivity to touch

- I am asexual/never been sexually active

I have watched videos about it on tiktok of people's experiences and they say it doesn't hurt, just feels a bit uncomfortable. I have difficulty with a lot of medical tests due to being hypersensitive to pain and having bad experiences in hospital in relation to this also. I did book one in but never went to it, and now I feel worried about trying to book another one. I wish there was a clinic I could go to, but no local ones do cervical tests. I have spoken to the GP about the process and asked questions but it didn't really help my anxiety. 

Does anyone have any advice on this? 

Parents
  • I have never been sexually active with a man but still have to go.  Well I go because my friend was tested and it was found she had cervical cancer, so its worth it.  However I've had some extremely awful nightmares with cervical smears that I won't go into here.  So last year I was so nervous about the smear that I wrote to my GP to let them know.  They prescribed some pain killers that went into the vagina like a tampon about 3-4 hours beforehand. Made an awful mess but that combined with the expert hand and years of experience of the nurse, it was over before I realised.  Best yet!!

Reply
  • I have never been sexually active with a man but still have to go.  Well I go because my friend was tested and it was found she had cervical cancer, so its worth it.  However I've had some extremely awful nightmares with cervical smears that I won't go into here.  So last year I was so nervous about the smear that I wrote to my GP to let them know.  They prescribed some pain killers that went into the vagina like a tampon about 3-4 hours beforehand. Made an awful mess but that combined with the expert hand and years of experience of the nurse, it was over before I realised.  Best yet!!

Children
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