I had my yearly pap scheduled for today at 11:15 am. The doctor is new because he is the one that performed my iud insertion under sedation (I also wrote a story about this experience). When I got the iud in August last year I didn’t get a Pap smear, I just got an internal ultrasound. My last Pap smear was with a different doctor last year in February. So I was due for it.

The doctor picked me up from the waiting room and told me to have a seat in his office. When he got back, he asked me how I was feeling and whether I had any questions. He also asked me about my last period.

After the short chat he asked me to follow him to the exam room. He asked me to undress from the waist down and have a seat on the gynecological chair. He told me to take my time and that he would be back in a bit. An assistant then came in. When I heard the door opening again I put my legs in the leg rests.

He took a two parted speculum and inserted it carefully saying “I’m very careful here”. He really was! I didn’t feel any discomfort. He asked me about my birthday which was a few weeks ago while he was taking the swaps. I didn’t feel much of the swaps. It used to be pinchy for me but not this time. The assistant was holding the upper part of the speculum.

He removed the speculum and the assistant left. He then inserted 2 fingers in my vagina and carefully felt around. There was quite a bit of pressure but no pain.

He then did a vaginal ultrasound to check my iud. He said that everything looks good and told me to get dressed and then undress from the waist up for the breast exam.

For the breast exam he told me to lay down. I’ve only gotten a breast exam once before and then I was standing, so this was new for me.

He gently palpated my breasts and lymph nodes. He said that everything felt perfectly healthy and that the exam was done.

The exam was really quick with a few waits in between. It was probably the gentlest and least uncomfortable exams I have ever had and the doctor made some remarks or jokes in between which eased the atmosphere.