Your anxiety level is going to be high. I think the worrying about it is the worst part. Mostly it is a more in depth pap smear. It doesn't last very long. Everyone's experience seems to be a little different.

Relax.

Thank you for the reply. I am just so nervous. The dr prescribed some Valium for me to take right before the procedure. I actually wish it was tomorrow because I haven't been able to sleep since I made the appointment due to all of my anxiety about it. I just want it to be over with. And that the results are not worrisome..........

I just had a colposcopy done a couple weeks ago & not to scare you even more, but it hurt pretty badly! Some people say it doesn't bother them & some people leave the doctors office crying. I hope you're one of those people who it doesn't bother! Have some pads ready for afterwards, I bled (& had nasty discharge) for about a week. Good luck & try not to stress about it too much, you'll be glad to have it over with!

Hi - I had one 2 weeks ago, I too was a nervous wreck. Luckily most of what I read and was told - was that it was very easy, and if anything you felt lousy after.

Well the worst part for me was the speculum insertion and the discomfort of it being inside me. The biopsy itself - i did not even feel. The ECC (endocervical curettage) which is a sample of the endocervical canal - and something you should definitely be sure to have done during your colpo - was a bit uncomfortable, a lot of pressure. Unfortunately my doc could not get into the opening of my cervix so I need the ECC redone. He will do that when he does my LEEP - my biopsy came back as CIN II so he does LEEPs on all patients with CIN II and higher.

Luckily he puts ALL patients under anesthesia for that.

Don't sweat it - chances are you will experience what most people experience, very little. Also - I had NO cramping after and NO discharge - whatseover.

Yes, going in for your colposcopy is new and something you will be anxious about. But, believe me, I had my first one in February. My GYN was wonderful to explain it to me.

He was there for me and I am sure your doctor will be there for you. As some of the ladies have said, it went fine. Mine went fine too. Of course, to be able to help you in doing that biopsy, some tissue has to be removed. It is for our great benefit they can do this for us. It is over in a second. Then pads which I threw away in a matter of hours.

You will be fine dear.

Bobbie

I had a colonoscopy last friday and it did not bother me until they had to make the turns which their are 2. The actual scope only lasted 10 minutes and the nurse said beforehand if I had any discomfort to let her know and I did. It felt like a bad cramp Good luck.

colposcopy dear...lol had a laugh at this one no offense, its totally different than colonoscopy. different "opening" and different procedure. all is good though, I am sad to know you had so much pain during your colonoscopy but the benefits outweigh the pain.

I made it through the colposcopy but it didn't go so well. I had quite a bit of pain and lots of bleeding. The dr even seemed suprised at the amount of blood. I won't go into the gory details because I would not want to disuade anyone from having this important procedure. My results came back as mild dysplasia. The dr is taking a wait-and-see approach to see if my body clears it on its own. Hopefully it will and I won't have to go through that again anytime soon!

We are so very fortunate to be able to be tested and have the benefit of having a colposcopy. Sure, it is downright painful. I told my doctor he was good at ducking otherwise I would have kicked him. He said he was sorry and he knew it hurt. No getting around that part. But the part of ignoring and not being tested and going onto to a worse fate of cervical cancer just doesn't equate.

Go in if your doctor tells you that your pap came back abnormal. Get the colposcopy and be thankful we live in a world where a woman's life is more protected.

I have had a friend go through the nightmare of cervical cancer. I say I am lucky that I am screened and protected in a way she never was.

We alone can look out for ourselves. We owe it to ourselves and those we love.

Bobbie

With one being a normal pap and ten being childbirth.
It's nowhere near ten, but if you keep telling yourself that it is going to be that painful, that's what your mind is going to think.
It's not that painful, just like some period cramps is what it felt like to me. Nothing much.
Don't worry it'll be fine.
If your really worried about something then ask your doctor about they will be open and honoest with you.

I just had a colposcopy today, and wanted to chime in in case others lookd this thread up.

I did not experience any more pain or discomfort than a regular Pap test. It took about five minutes, no kidding.

I listened to loud music through headphones. i found the distraction extremely helpful. I also instructed the doctor to NOT tell me, just do it. I find the anticipation and anxiety is worse than the actual procedure...any procedure, really.

I have no bleeding and moderate cramping. I forgot to take some ibuprofen beforehand, but I did when I got home and I am quite functional.

On the good side of it, she said (yeah, get a 'she' too-another anti-anxiety method) that everything looked perfectly healthy and thought the irregular Pap might have been a false positive or whatever it was cleared up on it's own. So Hooray! If anyone has questions about the procedure they can pm me or ask here.

Hi there, I've just had a repeat smear following some borderline changes today and, though I haven't got the results yet so shouldn't be worrying, I'm totally stressing out about the possibility of having to have a colposcopy. I'm convinced I'm going to have to have one, just a feeling...

I'm not even worried about the pain at all, it's just the whole procedure that freaks me out. I've always had serious anxiety issues about having smears and can just about cope when I'm at my local surgery with one of the friendly female nurses that I know quite well, though I'm still shuddering and feeling weird after this morning! But the thought of having to go to a hospital and have a much longer procedure, probably by a male doctor since most gynae docs seem to be male, is making me feel seriously sick and anxious.

So 2 questions; can you request to have it done by a female doctor and can you ask for sedation first, like valium or something? I know I'm being a big baby but I do have reasons for being freaked out by this kind of thing, going back to childhood. First time I had a smear I had a full blown freak out panic attack! Luckily the nurse was lovely and I'm much better now but I'm getting so stressed about this. And also about the fact that there might be something wrong of course. Thanks

You can request a female doctor and you can request slight sedation. The female doctor request is more easily obtained. I know that some doctors will offer relaxants, ie valium to those who are really anxious. Best to talk to your GP about that, or whoever is overseeing your procedure. Do not under any circumstances take any pain relievers with aspirin in them before the procedure. It makes bleeding worse as it thins blood. That is the only no-no. Pop a couple of tylenol about 30 minutes-1 hour before the procedure. Bring a book, something to distract you. Relax. Do whatever it takes to get your mind off the procedure.

I have had three, and i have to say I agree that the anxiety does make it worse!!The DR. was great & made me feel at ease.The 2 times it was way easier than i thought!The vinegar they put on your cervix does sting a bit, the actual sample they took i did not feel.The one I just had last week was done diff. this time because i had a "high grade" pap,they scrapped the inner part..that felt crampy when they did it, but closing my eyes & taking deep breaths helped.When you go home try to just relax because if you are active you may get cramps like i did!I have had cramps here and there and discharge since.. BUT this one was diff. than the first two.Anyone who's having a routine one done should be just fine!!Ask for a sedative before & that will help! -GOOD LUCK!!-

I just had a colposcopy done recently. It was extremely painful. So much so that I feel pretty shaken up about it, because I feel violated in some sort of fundamental way. I could feel every part of the procedure. The biopsies were especially painful. And I can't shake the feeling that something really terrible was done to me. I don't understand why I wasn't given any pain killers beforehand.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Do some women just have more nerve endings in their cervix?

I've had three as well and they have all been extremely painful. I could also feel every part of the procedure and was completely not functional for a day. I also passed out right after the first time I had the procedure from the pain. They didn't tell me take any pain killers and didn't give me anything before the first colpo, either. They told me it would be painless. What really bothers me is that the doctors just laugh it off and say it doesn't hurt, but it is actually extremely painful. After my first colpo, I refused to have any more done without some sort of pain and anxiety relief. What has helped me is taking 2 Xanex and 6 advil per day for the two days prior to the procedure and 8 to 10 advil on the day of. It is still very painful but the Xanex really helps you relax. Valium would also help you relax. You should try to get another strong pain reliever if you can get it. The worst thing is that you have to fight your doctor to get pain medication. They believe it's painless so they don't think you should get meds. Call me crazy but I thought that we had the right to have our doctors listen to our pain and try to help us.

For all of you going to get a colposcopy... i would talk to your Dr. about getting the numbing shots on your cervix before they take the biopsy... my first colposcopy was the most pain i could tolerate, i found out i had Cin III & had to have a leep ... during the leep procedure they give you the same numbing shots in your cervix, you feel a little pinch but not bad... i have to go in for another colposcopy & she is going to numb me all up before she does the colposcopy... still scary but i know i wont be in horrific pain this time.