Mumsnet Talk

I have quite irregular bleeding due to progesterone implant and I have a smear test tomorrow. It is my first one and I am not sure whether you are supposed to go if you have a period. Lots of web resources say you can't do them with heavy bleeding, but it is not heavy, as it is the end of my period.

Do I need to reschedule appointment? I would rather not as I have already made time up for absence for appointment at work.

Hi, am a practice nurse, and you're right in thinking that you can't take a smear when you're bleeding. But if you're only bleeding very lightly then the nurse might well be happy to take it, so maybe you should go along and see. So annoying, I think af waits for you to make the appointment!

There is a user on here who knows everything about smears so hopefully she'll be along to advise you too - I can't remember their name, helpfully ;)

I would phone up and ask, as you don't want to waste your time waiting and then it gets rescheduled. Sometimes you don't get a accurate result if your bleeding.

Agree with tilda (I suspect it was me you are thinking of), see if the practice nurse is happy to take it. The sample processing used now can clear up the blood if there's not too much of it, so light bleeding shouldn't be so much of an issue.
I think Tilda has more experience of actually taking the samples than me

Thanks for all the advice. I went today as I really couldn't be bothered rescheduling as getting to the surgery from work is a ball ache. The nurse just asked if I was still 'losing blood', which I wasn't sure about, so she did it anyway. Afterwards she said that the amount of blood was no more than many women get from the smear itself so it will be fine.

Hope that helps!

Glad that your smear could go ahead.

I hadn't had a period for about 6 months but it started as I was on my way to the surgery for my smear. How embarrassed was I having to whisper quietly to the receptionist why I couldn't go ahead with the appointment! So, yes, periods definitely wait for the appointment!!