Earlier this week I did a check-in on my Facebook account to my local medical practice in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. I have no shame in checking in to restaurants, hotels and more. So I had absolutely no shame as I checked into Buncrana Medical Centre as I waited to have my regular Smear Test carried out.

 

It's one of the most necessary tests a woman needs to go through and it's also one of the simplest. But yet many women shy away from getting theirs done because they are scared. They have a phobia. Or they just don't like exposing 'down there'.

 

I often write about how I enjoy this stage of parenting. The stage where my boys are grown and facing the world on their own. I love having 'me' time on a regular basis. So a very important part of that 'me' time is looking after 'me'. What better way of looking after 'me' than ensuring I get that all important Smear Test every two years. And I do. 

 

As I travelled to Buncrana on this day I did think on the way there that I'd forgotten to shave the legs. And heck, I hadn't painted the toenails. I did have a little chuckle to myself. I'm very much NOT a girly girl and yet here I was considering such. I later said such to the nurse carrying out my Smear Test.

 

As I sat outside the treatment room in the medical centre I began to consider the reasons many women refuse to have this test carried out on a regular basis. And I could not come up with a viable reason not to do so. I wasn't nervous about the procedure but I wasn't looking forward to it either. The nurse came out and called me in.

 


As I sat answering the initial questions and such, I was smiling to myself. The nurse of course noticed, so I explained how I'd been thinking over the past hour. I told her about my check-in on Facebook and I told her that I was considering writing a piece about getting a Smear done. She was very willing to answer some questions for me.

 


I asked her if women come in here and feel nervous and scared. She explained that they do on a regular basis. She said that women are afraid of the procedure and yet when it's over, they are always glad that they had it done. I asked her if it's awkward or embarrassing for herself and other nurses to carry out the procedure. She said not at all as it's all part of their daily routine. I told her my thoughts about shaving the legs, painting the toenails. She laughed and said that she doesn't look for the shaved legs or the painted nails. Her job is to find the cervix and take a swab. 

 

As she carried out the procedure on me, I could not have been more at ease. She was even able to tell me that everything looked fine. I didn't know that she was able to tell if something might look abnormal. She explained that sometimes they do. She also explained that although everything looked fine, that was not anywhere near a result but just her initial observation. She explained the entire procedure from start to finish. And this time period must have been a maximum of two minutes. Yes, just two minutes. And then it was on with the pants, the tights, and the boots. I was done.

 

What's the worst thing about getting a Smear Test?

 

I sat and had a  brief chat with the nurse before I left. I asked her what the worst thing about getting a Smear is from her perspective. Her answer is something all women should take heed. She simply said: "The biggest thing about having a Smear test is NOT having a Smear Test."

 

 

Of course, it's not the nicest visit we pay. It's not the type of visit we look forward to. But it's the type of visit which one day might just save our lives. As a mother, I don't feel that I have the right to tell another mother the right or indeed the wrong way to do something. But for the sake of ourselves, our children and our lives, we owe it to ourselves to have that regular Smear Test.

 

 

It only takes two minutes. And it might just save your life.

 

January is cervical awareness month. Why not book your Smear Test today

Mother of 3 grown up sons. Wife of one. Freelance Writer, English Tutor and Children's Creative Writing facilitator. Parenting is a continual learning process and one in which we're never fully qualified. Sometimes the bigger children test us more than the little ones. I'm still enjoying my parenting journey and even the role reversal which kicks in nowadays - yes, the big kids do the parenting every now and then.

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