Originally Posted by braingonebad

I think everyone gets nervous about pap tests, no matter how many you've had.

I started having them at 17, then had one per year up to age 40.



If you have a hx of any female trouble - depending on what type of trouble - your risk of having the same goes up. That's why the docs want to know your family hx, so they are careful to watch for those things in particular.

Even if nobody had any cervical cancer in your family, that does not mean you can't get it. And the symptoms can be very subtle, and come pretty late when the cancer is advanced. Better to have the smear and catch the cancer, don't you think?

How do I cope with the test?

Usually, I try to go into denial before hand. And after I do something nice for myself.





It's not fun, but you'll be okay, okay?