Obstetrics - Pap Smear - Extreme Pain Opening Speculum:Health care

What is "Obstetrics " ?

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Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgical field.

My experience over Obstetrics "Pap Smear - Extreme Pain Opening Speculum"

I had my first pap smear appointment recently and it was a DNF due to pain—I am wondering how common this is and what follow up steps I could take.

I don’t have penetrative sex, but I do use tampons with no issue and don’t have any anxiety with penetration.

The nurse practitioner was able to easily insert one finger for a manual inspection, and the speculum insertion was also tolerable (only mildly uncomfortable); however, when they tried to open the speculum, it caused excruciating pain - I felt scraping/sparking pain internally near the end of the speculum. They tried twice and the same thing happened both times.

This was a standard sized speculum, but the NP said I likely wouldn’t be able to handle the pediatric speculum either and didn’t attempt. I’d asked about IUDs and they said I’d probably need anesthesia for that insertion procedure since it uses an even larger speculum.

The NP suggested I try vaginal dilators at home first and come back - but I’ve never known anyone (including friends who haven’t had penetrative sex, and don’t use tampons or penetrative toys) who’s needed months of dilation before a routine Pap smear or IUD insertion.

Does this just sound like overly tight pelvic floor muscles, or is there something else I should rule out?

submitted by /u/marangoni_macaroni
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