The short answer to this question is, yes, you can be sedated to get a pelvic exam and Pap smear.
A simple change in positioning might also make a pap smear less painful. Some women tolerate the procedure better by lying on their sides or they place their hands underneath their rears and press down. Just like sex, different positions can decrease any discomfort you feel in your vagina.
It may be that your pelvic floor muscles were not as relaxed. Also, it could be the size and brand of the speculum used. Different speculums are available now that may stretch your vaginal entrance a bit more and be uncomfortable. Ask your doctor to use a narrower speculum in future.
Dr. Marvel and the Center for Pelvic Pain at Annapolis now offering sedation gynecologic procedures using the Nitronox™ analgesia system as a way to effectively manage pain and relieve any anxiety you may feel before and during gynecologic exams and procedures.
Pelvic examination under anesthesia (EUA) is performed when a patient cannot be adequately examined without sedation or general anesthesia (eg, for reasons of physical or psychological discomfort) or to provide information that will help guide a subsequent surgical procedure.
Practice slow, deep breathing. Try to relax your shoulders, your stomach muscles and the muscles between your legs. Your provider should already be describing each step of the exam, but you can ask for more explanation or for them to go more slowly.
“If you are really concerned or anxious about any part of the test, it's advisable to speak with the doctor or nurse in advance, as they can help make the test more comfortable for you and talk through any of your concerns,” Dr. Ameen also suggested.
If you find that gynaecological tests have been extremely painful for you in the past, you can also speak with your doctor and ask for a prescription or different options to help you feel more comfortable during your screening.
Why does a speculum hurt so much? Pain may be a sign that your muscles are overly tense or that you have a condition that's making the experience painful. To prevent pain, communicate your concerns and relevant health information to your provider. Let them know at any point if you're experiencing pain.
Smears can become uncomfortable after the menopause and this can put some women off coming for cervical screening. One of the main causes of discomfort is the speculum (the instrument used to hold the walls of the vagina open).
Researchers found 17% more women were screened when they had the option not to use a speculum during the exam. Instead, a doctor or nurse could take a vaginal sample without a speculum. Under-screened and unscreened women have the highest risk of developing cervical cancer.
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.
Speculum insertion can be associated with considerable discomfort during routine pelvic examination. Physiologically, vaginal entry requires lubrication. However, traditional teaching recommends, if anything, warm water only for lubrication, because lubricants are believed to interfere with Pap and infection tests.
You may feel some pressure or mild discomfort when the speculum is put in and opened. Usually a small spatula or tiny brush is used to gently collect cells from the cervix for the Pap test. You may feel a light scratching when they take the cells, or you may feel nothing at all.
There's no need to panic
When you hear that your Pap smear results were abnormal, you might feel some anxiety. Although worry is a common and normal reaction, it's important to know that your test results merely showed that you have an infection or unusual cells known as dysplasia. None of this means you have cancer.
Pap Smear Procedure
It takes about 10-20 minutes for the whole exam, but only a few minutes for the actual Pap smear. The test is done in your doctor's office or clinic.
The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles at the base of the pelvis surrounding the vaginal opening. If these muscles are tight or tense, they can narrow the vaginal opening and cause pain with insertion of the speculum. Relaxing the pelvic floor muscles can help decrease pain during pelvic exams.
It's not necessary to shave or wax your vagina before getting a gynecologic exam,” Dr. Ross ensures. “Vaginal grooming is your personal choice. The main consideration on how to prepare for an exam is to simply be clean, so showering or using a vaginal hygiene wipe prior to your visit is suggested.”
The treatment involves removing a small disc-shaped piece of tissue containing these abnormal cells. This procedure will be carried out in the day care unit under a general anesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the procedure.
The examination involves looking and feeling both inside and outside your body. Your doctor will likely use a tool called a speculum to open your vagina so it's easier to view your vagina and cervix. He or she will feel for your ovaries, both inside and outside your body.
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.
SMALL SIZE SPECULUM: The gynecological instrument measures 3-inch by 1/2-inch used by doctors to open the walls of the vagina and examine the vagina and cervix.