I can only imagine how uncomfortable an exam must be, so I would assume they would use lubrication to make it more bearable.
Yes they use a lubricant. Its not comfortable, its a doctors appointment and someone you don’t know is sticking things inside of you. It is also normally not painful, if it is painful that is something to discuss with your doctor.
I assume you are male, just wait until you get older and need prostate exams, then you’ll have some idea of what’s it’s like to have a doctor sticking their fingers all up in there. It’s not a direct comparison, of course, but close enough for the Internet.
This is easily searchable. You’re a gross moron.
I wanted to hear from the experiences from different people. How the hell is this question gross?
If you are tense and emotionally uncomfortable and/or the doctor is rough or rushed or just uncaring = it can be a bad experience.
Generally speaking the speculum is not comfortable but not painful. It is there so they can use a swab to get a sample from the woman’s cervix to check for abnormal/cancer cells. Some women don’t even feel the swab and others find it painful - most feel it but don’t find it particularly painful. If they do find problematic cells they cut a little bit off the cervix for testing.
I have always had nice doctors - when I was younger I felt a little weirded out - but never uncomfortable or in any pain. Until I had a cervical biopsy- which did hurt and left me cramping for a bit. But it hurt at around the level it hurts to get stuck with a needle when you give blood. Yes, it hurt - but not severe.
It’s just much much more scary to hurt in a sensitive area then it is to hurt on, say, your arm.
Thank you for the detailed answer. It’s really insightful.
Considering all the issues women gave in the medical field (like doctors often downplaying symptoms and complaints), I wonder what percentage of doctors are rough.
It’s not gross, just inquisitive. Kinda nice to have people be curious about what things are like for others that are different from themselves.
And to answer it: yes they use lube. It’s more cold and uncomfortable than painful.
Thanks, it was really a curiosity about something I’ll never experience. I also thought I’d ask, because I think there is still too much taboo around female heath topics.
I think its impossible to get away from the uncomfortability of it, but happy to hear from several people already that it is not painful.
