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![](https://beehaw.org/pictrs/image/bcae6839-244a-4162-a988-42ee46909013.png)
Haha yes, that is exactly the picture that inspired the username. The other part of the inspiration came from First Dog On The Moon’s character, Brenda the Civil Disobedience Penguin ♡ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/19/the-northern-hemisphere-is-on-fire-the-temperature-records-being-broken-are-record-breaking?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
I had this experience in recent years. Heads up, cervical screening can get more painful in peri- and post-menopause, as the body’s natural lubricant production slows down and can stop altogether. It’s worth reading about all the perimenopause symptoms (including less common ones) and see if your paingul screening experience correlates with any other symptoms.
This is worth checking even if you’re younger than the average age range for peri (45 - 55), as some people with a cervix go through it at a much younger age.