Are there any advice on how to get through a painful paps smear?

[Tori1022]

I saw a comment about this one gynecologist who told this girl to duck down like she was going to sneeze, and that helped her not feel any pain. I can't find that comment anywhere. I really need some advice, because I've tried everything I can, and nothing worked.

[monomaniac]

I honestly think all pap smears are painful but what I've found helps is to request a gyno that is good with people who are scared of pap smears.  The key is that you have to relax!

The last time I went that's what I did (no joke; I requested someone good with people that have a pap smear phobia) and the woman they assigned to me was really nice and patient. Every other pap smear I've gotten the dr inevitably gets annoyed with me because I can't relax and am really reluctant to even open my legs.  It was different with this lady because she didn't get annoyed and talked me through it.

[Tori1022]

That's how this lady was also. I tried everything I could to relax..but the more she told me to relax, the more I felt pressured. I don't know why I feel so afraid. I even did some research, and oddly enough have these dreams that I have gotten to the part where she got to my cervix, did the swab and I ask her to pull it out slowly. I don't know. All i know is I'm terrible with pain, and I just wish there was a way to do this. That's why I'm trying to do some research like the doctor, and my mom said. This lady said she didn't use anything bigger than a penis, but for me that wasn't very helpful, and I asked if she had anything smaller, and she said nope. I also saw that if she didn't use this wax the thoroughly lubricated speculum would still be painful. It started with a K. I don't know. I'm really dreading my upcoming appointment this May.