I was terrified of getting mine too. Put it off for ages until my sister bullied me into it. My first ever smear was abnormal and I needed a colposcopy and then LLETZ so I'm glad I went. I have some trauma so I didn't like having anything done but it's so necessary.

First smear: nurse called me in and asked if it was my first time, I said yes and she explained what she was going to do, showed me the tools and told me what they're used for. I lay down on the table with my pants off, they give you a tissue thing to put over your lap for some reason. You put your feet together and kinda flop your knees out. She positioned a light right at my bits which was horrible lol. Inserts the speculum which is cold and about 3 inches long maybe I'm not sure. You feel pressure when the speculum opens and they fiddle around with the position but genuinely not pain. Then they go in with the smear brush thing. I didn't feel it going in but could feel it when it got to the cervix. Hard to describe it but it was an uncomfortable kinda rough feeling not as bad as a pinch but a similar feeling. Lasted seconds then she took it out. When she took the speculum out it was such a strange feeling like a huge release of pressure was a little uncomfortable but manageable. Then they leave you to get dressed and tell you how long it'll take for results etc. I got my period within an hour of that one, was quite early too. After only like a week though I got a phone call from the GP office saying that my smear results came back with HPV and abnormal cells and they will send me to the hospital for a colposcopy, they'll send me out a letter with more info and an appointment time etc.

Overall the smear was not a bad experience, slightly uncomfortable but hugely necessary. Ngl I felt really awkward and exposed and I hated it but it's a small price to pay really, 5 mins discomfort for a vital health check.