bleeding triggered by Pap smear???

[MoonlightLeafie]

hello! This is my first post here but I wanted to ask something I was a bit :/ about

so. I turned 25 in November, and because of this I got invited for my first Pap smear. I went to the appointment keeping in mind I have been diagnosed in the past with vaginismus in 2020 and have yet to go through with dilator treatment that was suggested to me back when it was diagnosed. Because of covid, I couldn’t pick up my prescription and so I haven’t even started on my treatment with that.

The nurse called and said they have had a vaginismus patient before, BUT she would double book me so there was no rush. when I got there, I consented to the test, however she couldn’t even get the spectacle in further than probably a cm or two without me crying and screaming to take it out because it was causing so much pain. She suggested that if I DID have endometriosis, this is what could be causing that pain, however, the specialist I saw last month said that usually the pain is after not during and there could be another issue.

After the test, despite it barely going in, and despite me being on the mini pill and having bled little to nothing the month before, I bled continuously for about 2-3 weeks during last month up until the other day when I finally stopped…but I’m due again most likely tomorrow.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? What could be causing such a sharp and unbearable pain from barely any penetration with bleeding afterwards? Thank you if you’ve read this far…sorry it’s so long.

[MoonlightLeafie]

side note !!! I have had penetrative sex (fingers, toys) before a handful of times, used tampons, attempted self pleasure etc etc but it’s all been excruciatingly painful.

[Tangoandmax]

Hi, the specialist is completely incorrect, pain during intercourse/penetration is completely common for those of us with endometriosis.

I have historically been unable to tolerate smear tests too due to the speculum pain. I’ve recently been diagnosed with endo and adenomyosis. The severe pain was due to adhesions which had tethered organs together meaning my uterus was stuck in an unnatural position when it’s supposed to be free moving.

I also had bleeding post smear and sex. It turned out to be a benign cervical ectropian which can be treated if it’s causing bleeding issues. They burn the cells under local anaesthetic.

Hope this helps!

[MoonlightLeafie in reply to Tangoandmax]

Would that show up on an us??? I’ve had many us’s and they come back clear every time. Just a small subseptate uterus

[Tangoandmax in reply to MoonlightLeafie]

Ultrasounds are pretty much useless unless carried out by a specialist. Most are carried out by standard practitioners who are only likely to identify endo cysts (because they’re described as chocolate) which are easily visible.

I had around 6/7 spanning eight years, the last was with a specialist who was able to identify my uterus was not free moving. All previous to him were unremarkable/normal which was very wrong.

I should say, it can be missed on an ultrasound and MRI even if it is a specialist looking which is why the lap is the only way to confirm diagnosis. But getting to lap stage can be difficult unless you miraculously stumble through the referral process getting the right people. Just make sure anyone reporting on any scans you have or consultant you see is either a specialist or has a special interest in the condition. Basic training for gyne is minimal so a lot don’t have a clue what they’re talking about! X

[SavageGold]

Hi moonlightleafieI can relate sad to say. I couldnt have smears, they certainly tried when I was 17 or younger due to sexual abuse as a teen.

I dont want to go into unnessacary details. I will try and stick to anything relavent but its 20 years of history of smears and dialators and bleeding.

The first smear as a teen was unsuccesful.

I then had to go back for fears of sti's later in life (forced intercourse again) i had 3 smears done in a year and bled continually. Pain through out the smears and days afterward if i remember correctly. I had an ultrasound and totally refused a transvaginal.

I was given dialators in that time and bled using those and excrutiating pain. The consultant told me to stay at the smaller size dialator until i got comfortable with it. I never moved up a size. I eventually had a therapist told me to stop using the dialators and find something else like a gentle vibratour to massage with. I didnt buy a vibrator. I bought a wiggly dildo made of glass and was rounder than the dialators which worked. It was freezing and it was soothing. I then bled after a triathlon and was rushed into the clinic in the city. I had taken cocodomol for the pain and they let me do my own insertion with the speculum. That one did not hurt as much, but the stupid GP in training ripped the speculum out without warning and Ive hardly been able to use my dildo since. Stupid unkind GP set me back 20 years in that thoughtless act. They decided to diagnose me with a burst ovarian cyst that time.

I cant use tampons. They hurt the whole time they were in. I thought i would get used to that and didnt.

On the other hand i also saw a yoga instructor one to one for 3 months and it made a huge difference to my pelvic floor as well.

I also paid privately for an mri which shows my uterus is doing a back flip and its being yanked to one side. Armed with that advice I was going in doing my dildo workout following the direction from that. I suddenly didnt feel like i was just hitting a wall like i didnt have a vagina at all. I could actually get in. Im sorry thats a little out of sequence I cant remember quite where that fit.

We are not allowed to give advice on here. There was a moderator on here just before christmas warning us to not offer help, but I hope something in there gives you comfort you are not alone. And gives you ideas to try.