Good afternoon, vagina fans! It is @floschechter signing on to tweet about my cervical smear today!!
thread 👇
thread 👇
I was intending to live tweet it but it happened so fast I literally didn't have time!!! But I managed to nab some pictures and key info to share.
When I arrived, a receptionist met me at the door to sign me in. He gave me a new mask even though I was already wearing one. Not entirely sure why....
After about 3 minutes, the nurse called me in to the consulting room.
After about 3 minutes, the nurse called me in to the consulting room.
I told the nurse that I worked at the Vagina Museum and asked if it was ok if I tweet about my experience. She said absolutely!!!! She felt it was so important to share our experiences to encourage people to get their smears
Here's the bed set up waiting for me!
Here's the bed set up waiting for me!
She even laid out all the equipment she'd be using so I could take a photo. So nice!
In this picture is a plastic speculum in its sterile packaging, the swab thingy and the pot to send off the sample, and a little sachet of lube.
In this picture is a plastic speculum in its sterile packaging, the swab thingy and the pot to send off the sample, and a little sachet of lube.
The nurse pulled back the curtain and I took off my underwear and leggings.
Top tip! Wear a skirt you can hitch up so you feel a little less ~naked~ while lying on the bed.
Top tip! Wear a skirt you can hitch up so you feel a little less ~naked~ while lying on the bed.
She then came round the curtain and asked me to put my feet as close to my bottom as I could and relax my legs. She said, the more relaxed your body is, the more relaxed your vagina is, so it will be less uncomfortable.
After a year of not even hugging anyone except my bubble, it felt extremely weird to have my vulva on display to a stranger. I'm usually very comfortable with my body, but the experience really accentuated how divorced from my body and physical touch with others this past year.
The nurse was so professional though, she's probably seen hundreds of vulvas in her career!
The speculum was sort of room temperature. At my last smear, I could feel the scratch of the swab thing, but this year I didn't feel anything.
The speculum was inside maybe 90 seconds, if that.
The speculum was inside maybe 90 seconds, if that.
As I got dressed, the nurse said that all she's been doing today is smears!! The labs were all busy at the beginning of the pandemic so they couldn't do smears, so many people had to have their smears postponed (including me).
She thinks that now so many people are working from home, they can be more flexible with booking appointments so more people are coming during work hours.
The whole thing took about 5 minutes, no joke. It was lightening fast! The nurse was very kind and happy to answer any questions.
If you are due a smear, book it today!
For more info and resources, check out @JoTrust and @eveappeal
If you are due a smear, book it today!
For more info and resources, check out @JoTrust and @eveappeal
I'm off to treat myself to a snack for taking care of myself and my health today!!
@floschechter signing off 👋
@floschechter signing off 👋
My snack is hamantaschen from @GAILsBakery!!!!!! This is a Jewish cookie with vulvic origins so it felt very appropriate! (will link below the thread we did last year)
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