 [ Symptoms ] pap smear test painful i have fear of going to the gynecologist because the pap smear test always hurt i can not open my legs as much due to problems with my hip and as a result i am not totally relaxed during this test and when the doctor puts the hand inside to touch my cervix it hurts and i bleed afterwards what should the doctor do to make the exam much better [ Disease ] some clinicians are just more gentle than others for women i would suggest a female provider md pa or nurse practitioner not that men cannot be gentle i am a man but a woman provider should be much more sympathetic to your concerns make the appointment and then call them personally a day or so before your exam to discuss your concerns knowing that you have had a bad experience in the past should make them more understanding take their time and make this important exam less stressful for you a small amount of bleeding can be expected with a pap sometimes but certainly the clinician can be a bit more gentle with the bimanual examination when feeling your uterus cervix and ovarian areas