Smear test---- cervical cancer??

Ever since i was 5, i heard someone talking about smear tests (they didn't paint them nicely at all) and ever since have always been absolutely terrified of any kind of "test" down there. I tried once, but saw just a simple swab and ran from the room crying!! Pathetic i know!
However, now i KNOW i really need to face my fears and just get it over with.
My mum, grandma and g.grandma all had cancer (cervical i guess?) and it absolutely terrifies me thinking about it. It's become a real problem now, effecting my sleep and mood.
I had my son early (26 weeks) and have always had few periods which are v.light.
In the last month i have had around 4 sharp pains that have made me actually drop to the floor and gasp.I often get feelings that my lower abdomen and cervix area are tender/twingy. If i jump or run, it can hurt and feel like its being pulled.
I'm only 22 but do you think this is worrying? Or a cause for concern?
I'd love advice on the smear also, & what is involved.
x x x x

If you had your son in a hospital and were cared for by a doctor with prenatal visits, then you have more than likely already had a pap smear. It's usually done during the first physical exam you have with the obstetrician, and another one is often done at your six week check after delivery. And if you survived labor and delivery, you can make it through a pap smear hands down. The usual routine is to come in and change into a gown, and have a paper drape or sheet placed over your bottom half. The nurse helps you lay back on the table, and will put your legs into the stirrups. You end up on your back in rather a froggy position, and the doctor takes his/her spot at the end between your legs. They usually will ask you to bear down slightly as they insert the speculum. That's not anything but a sort of mutated salad tong looking thing that will hold open the vaginal canal so the cervix can be seen. Then the doctor uses a brush swab to remove some cells from the cervix- smears those across a glass slide, and removes the speculum. The swab isn't a lot longer than a q-tip- and looks like a mini bottle brush. It won't hurt at all to take the cells, as the cervix has no feeling- a good thing, or you would never have a baby! Once the smear is over, the next step is a bimanual exam- the doctor slips a couple fingers inside the vagina and presses down on your lower abdomen with the other hand. He's trying to locate your ovaries, and see how large your uterus is- make sure everything is present and accounted for, the right size and nothing is particularly tender. The last exam is a rectal exam- which you can refuse if you must, but shouldn't despite the oddity. The doctor slips one lubricated finger into your anus, to feel the backside of the cervix. It's over and done fairly quickly, fortunately- more embarassing than anything else. Then he'll smear the tip of that finger on a card, to test for blood you can't see. It's a quick easy test for some types of colon cancer, the cheapest way to check and pretty accurate at detecting cancer while it's still very early on. After all that, you will also likely have a breast exam. Then, it's all over with- the doctor leaves for the office and you get redressed, then join the doctor in the office to go over any questions you have. If you had a baby, you shouldn't have a problem at all getting a pap smear. A pap smear is nothing compared to that. And given the family history of cervical cancer, and since you are now a mom, it's very important that you take the responsibility of having your pap smear done every single year. I don't know what kind of swab you saw- but the largest swab made is still just nothing but an overgrown q-tip. It's still nothing more than a wad of cotton on a stick. And after all, the cervix is in there a bit- you wouldn't expect them to use a toothpick size, now would you? The actual swab they use really is more like a tiny bottle brush than anything else, and it doesn't hurt a bit. So make your appointment. Tell the nurse you are frightened, scared, and nervous- she'll be able to do a great deal to settle you and coax you through the exam. We do it quite often where I work, and it's just not a big deal for us- no extra hassle at all. We'd rather coax you through it than have you avoid it. So, you used to be scared. You ran once. So what? Now you are a mom, and mom's can do anything. Just ask your son! He thinks the universe revolves around you. So what's a little old pap smear? Then you will find out what's behind the odd pains, and can sleep at night. Not to mention, you will be healthier and happier knowing you are doing all you can to stick around to care for the little guy.

A pap smear test ahh it is nothing!! A little uncomfortable seeing your naked legs up in front of the ob gyn but it does not hurt she will take cotton swabs and take cultures of your insides does not take but a few mins...

Cervical cancer is caused by a Sexually Transmitted Disease called HPV, if it is hereditary it may be a different kind of cancer.. Not cervical.. If your mum, grandma and great grandma had it..

okay you should really find out what kind of cancer they had. Cervical cancer.,,my understanding comes from HPV virus which you get from having sex. so it your not sexually active you don't really have to worry about it. Its really not that bad, I don't know who kept telling you horror stories. I had one time where it pinched a lot but its no worse then a pinch seriously, its a lot less painful if your relaxed and it might help if you have a doctor you understands your concerns and is gentle with you and explains everything beforehand. Goodluck.

Yeah, the test itself is no big deal. Pity someone had to instil all that fear in you as a kid.

Now about the cancer - you're not even sure which cancer your relatives had, so first you've got to get some hard information. Talk to your mum if you can, or other relatives, to get as much info as possible, read up on the whole area of gynecological health, and try to stop stressing about this.

Then talk to your doctor about your fears, and about the pain. If your current doctor is unsuitable (unfriendly or scary), find another doctor.

Honestly, you've been through 100x worse if you've already had a baby and been to all the prenatal visits during your pregnancy. The pap smear is nothing. If anything, it tickles. And the speculum is usually cold. That's about the extent of the discomfort involved in a pap smear.

You must not assume that the pains you feel are related to cancer, and avoid going to the doctor simply because you don't want bad news. That's a sure way to get bad news eventually. Those pains could be ovarian cysts, your appendix, anything at all. You need to get checked out.

If you're having those sharp pains, that's not normal unless it's being pulled by fingers or being crashed into by fingers or during sex. That's the only time I've ever been in pain because of my cervix. I'm going to say that you should go to your doctor. I realize that you are afraid of tests "down there", but right now, knowledge is your best friend and only the swab will tell you what you need to know.