01/24/2026
As a member of the BC Cancer communications team, I’ve written a lot about cervix self-screening. So when my family doctor offered me the newly launched test during a routine visit, I was curious to try it myself.
I had actually gone in for the Pap test I was due for, but I thought it would be helpful and honestly interesting to experience firsthand something I had only described in my work. I had no idea how much more I was about to experience.
I’m in my early 30s and live in Squamish, where I spend as much time outside as possible. I’ve always been pretty proactive about my health, so when my doctor called me back in to discuss the results of the self-screening test, I didn’t think too much of it. The test indicated I should return for a Pap. That Pap showed abnormal cells, which led to a referral for a colposcopy at the hospital.
The colposcopy itself was quick and painless. The doctor explained that I’d hear back about whether I would need a LEEP procedure (to remove abnormal or precancerous tissue from the cervix) and sent me home with an information pamphlet.
The pamphlet was super helpful – but reading through it was the first time I felt a wave of discomfort and nerves. Even though I knew logically that this was all preventative, I couldn’t help worrying about whether I’d need the procedure.
And I did.
I built it up in my head a lot. The pamphlet had outlined what to expect afterward (the potential cramping, the discharge, the aftercare), and it stressed me out. But when the day came for my LEEP procedure, my doctor and nurse were so kind and reassuring, helping me feel more at ease.
I won’t pretend the procedure was comfortable – it wasn’t – but it was also quick, about ten minutes from start to finish, and surprisingly not painful. The local anesthetic was actually the worst part, but that pain passed quickly. I’ve had period cramps that were more intense, and getting an IUD inserted was, in my experience, significantly more painful.
The aftercare was honestly more annoying than anything else – mainly because I had to use pads instead of tampons, which are not my favourite. But that was it. And now I have the peace of mind that those precancerous cells won’t have the chance to become something more serious.
I’m sharing this because I’ve heard so many friends say that Pap tests are uncomfortable and that they’ve been putting it off. But cervix self-screening was fast and easy – I could have done it at home.
And while I didn’t expect to need the follow-up test or a LEEP, I’m incredibly grateful I screened. Each step happened quickly, I felt cared for throughout, and the discomfort was nothing compared to what a future cancer diagnosis could bring.
My advice? Do it! The worst that can happen is you prevent cervical cancer from developing – and that’s a pretty great outcome.
Request a cervix self-screening kit today:
Cervix self-screening can stop cancer before it develops. It's free and can be done wherever you feel safe and comfortable, such as in your home or at a health care provider’s office. Cervix self-screening is an alternative to the Pap for routine cervical cancer screening.
