Not marking this as NSFW because it’s about health, but mods please let me know if you think it should be and I will change it.
Health screenings are so important so I don’t want to put anyone off them, but has anyone else found them more difficult as you’ve gotten older?
Just had my cervical screening and it hurt like hell this time. Last couple of times have been fine. Not sure if it was the nurse or if I’m just more sensitive today or if it’s a normal thing to find it more painful. I figure if it is the latter then it’s good to be aware.
Things get really real once you hit 45 and need a colonoscopy. (Do not skip this. It can save your life.)
Fortunately, they’ve come out with better options for the horrible drink that cleans you out. Do your research and make sure you’re not getting the old-fashioned “drink gallons and gallons of this salty stuff all night and don’t leave the toilet” solution. I’ve had wildly different experiences based on the solution that’s prescribed.
Yeah I wish my doctor would check my prostate using lube, or at least a glove.
Kidding, kidding. My doctor actually said the best practice is no longer to routinely check prostate via digital rectal exam (DRE) because it doesn’t indicate prostate issues any earlier or more accurately than checking a blood PSA level.
I can only imagine that a cervical exam is very uncomfortable. And being that I work in the medical field, I have assisted obtaining cervical swabs. I will say that some providers are pretty focused on getting a good exam or swab and seem to forget that it is a person they are working with. I would definitely mention that it was especially uncomfortable last time and see if they can go slower or anything. If not, maybe get the exam from a different provider, if possible. Some people’s technique just does not include the comfort of the patient.
I had this experience in recent years. Heads up, cervical screening can get more painful in peri- and post-menopause, as the body’s natural lubricant production slows down and can stop altogether. It’s worth reading about all the perimenopause symptoms (including less common ones) and see if your paingul screening experience correlates with any other symptoms.
This is worth checking even if you’re younger than the average age range for peri (45 - 55), as some people with a cervix go through it at a much younger age.
