Desperately worried about DD's smear test

[worriedallnight]

Have namechanged for this, sorry.

DD is 20 and has had gynae trouble since puberty, with heavy/irregular periods and constant, often quite severe abdominal pains. She has been on the pill since 14 to try to help with all this. She told me last week she has been having pain during sex and bleeding after intercourse for months, so I got her to see the GP straightaway. She was sent to practice nurse for full round of STI tests and a smear. The nurse said at the time that the cervix looked very inflamed, but no sign of ectropion(?). The STI results came back negative, but last night she received a text message from the surgery to say they've had results of the smear test, and she has to arrange a telephone consultation with GP within 2 weeks. Of course now she can't contact the surgery until Monday.

DD has had the HPV vaccine, but as part of catch-up programme after she had already had sex. She's been sexually active since 15, though always in established relationships, and has only slept with 3 or 4 boyfriends.

I have reassured DD that smear tests are often abnormal in young women, but inside I'm bricking it tbh. A few years ago I had breast cancer, and it feels hideously similar to that time, when people kept saying it was so unlikely to be cancer, but all the time I was waiting for results I just knew it was.

Thanks so much if you've read this far! If anyone has any advice I would be very grateful, but mostly just need to get it off my chest, I can't talk to anyone in RL just now, my dad died last week too and we are all coping with that

[MamaMolho]

Sorry to hear that you are going through this on top of your dad dying.

I know you are concerned about your DD but try not to worry. I had an abnormal smear in my 20s and had some cells removed and I've been completely fine since. Still have to have annual smear tests but they've all come back clear since having the simple procedure. As you say, the cervix changes a lot at this age and therefore something might have shown up in her test. It's pretty common, so many of my friends have had abnormal smears too when at this age.

I also had a friend who bled after sex and who was told it was because her cervix was sensitive. She was referred to the hospital where they painted a solution on it so it wouldn't bleed so easily. She was fine afterwards.

Please don't worry, no point in worrying about the worst when it could be something straight forward. And sorry about your dad's passing.

[MamaMolho]

Just re-read your post - I would have thought that if it was serious they wouldn't have asked her to arrange a telephone consultation - they'd want to deliver the news face to face.

[worriedallnight]

Mama thanks and it's good to hear you've remained fine. All you've said makes sense, am trying to keep telling myself it's far more likely to be something straightforward. It's just the combination of pain, bleeding and abnormal result that's freaking me out!

[Iworrymyselftosleep]

When I needed a referral to the colposcopy clinic for abnormal cervical cells the doctor spoke to me by phone. Even if there are abnormal cells there are several stages before hitting the bricking it stage - search for colposcopy threads on here. I used them and I was reassured when I was bricking it.

I needed the reassurance as I was linking hearing the results to be like hearing my mums cancer diagnosis. I rrationalized then that if there was a problem I would want to know as soon as possible. I had done all I could to be in a position to hear the news and I couldn't make it happen any sooner.

Waiting is horrible. Im sorry for the loss of your father. It certainly is a difficult time for you and I hope everything goes well on monday. and

[worriedallnight]

Thanks Iworry. I suspect referral for colposcopy is what's coming next, and then more waiting........... You're right, the waiting is just horrible.

[BonnieBeaumont]

I had a colposcopy in my twenties following abnormal smears and have had regular smears ever since which have all been fine. I'm sure your daughter would not have been left to arrange an appt at her convenience in the next few weeks if they had serious concerns. It would have been made for her! It's only natural to worry though. It's what us mums do best. xx

[BonnieBeaumont]

I also had the pain you describe during intercourse.

[wendle70]

Hi OP i just thought it might put your mind at rest to gear this..i had a recall after my regular smear showed cells that didnt look too bad but needed investigation..went private (had insurance) and had a colposcopy where they use a machine to get a good look and a biopsy but all was fine in the end. The consultant explained that in the vast majority of cases, even if they find dodgy cells..they are pre cancerous and the 'pre' is usually like 10 years...if you have hpv there are several different strains and while a few are more dodgy, the body is often able to rid itself of the hpv naturally. So if there is evidence of the body doing that then they leave it or sometimes they laser them out. Have had loads of friends who have had this done. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule and there are some dodgy types of hpv and you always need to look into it but dont worry yourself just because she has to get it looked into. I am a massive hypochondriac too but honestly i didnt realise until i looked into it how benign these things can be. As long as she's getting it looked at, am sure all will be fine.

[Worriedkat]

It sounds like some changes in the cells requiring a more thorough look by colposcopy referral. A request for a phone consult in the next few weeks wouldn't happen for cancer, things would be moved much faster.

[worriedallnight]

Thanks everyone. I agree the request for phone consultation suggests it's not too bad, but just wish it was Monday so we can find out. DD and I are having a lovely day full of treats, to take our minds off it

[MrsWedgeAntilles]

Please don't worry.
I was assisting with an examination a few years ago when the doctor spotted what he though was something suggestive of cancer. He sent our patient to hospital immediately and made arrangements for her to be seen by the relevant team as soon as she got there. This was out of hours as well. If they thought there was anything sinister going on with your DD they wouldn't be fannying about with telephone consultations sometime in the next two weeks.
Its overwhelmingly more than likely she'll be fine. She'll maybe need colposcopy or more frequent smears which are an annoyance but nothing more and maybe some simple treatment, but the likelyhood is she'll be ok.
I say this as a nurse in this area and as a patient who had this stuff as well.