I need some reassurance that my local Family Planning Clinic are doing the right thing and I don?t need to demand another smear test. I?ll explain:
I?ve been having some problems with breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle. I?m on Celeste combined pill and the bleeding mid-packet is light, and usually happens from when I have ten pills or so left of the packet. It lasts for about 5 days to a week, then tails off in time for me to have my pill free week and then have a bleed.
I?ve been on Celeste now for six months, and I was on Microgynon for about 3 years prior to Celeste. I was taken off Microgynon because I started to get breakthrough bleeding and my PMT was becoming a bit of a problem . So I was put on Celeste and after three months the breakthru bleeding stopped, for two months, but now it?s back.
When I saw the FPC to swap from Microgynon to Celeste they asked me if my smears were up to date - I had one in May 2008 which came back ok, so I?ll be recalled in 3 years. As they were up to date, she changed my pill and advised me to have a chlamydia test, which came back -ve. So, officially I?m due another smear in April 2011, so I have another 8 months to wait.
When I was switched to Celeste I went back after 3 months to get more and she asked me if the bleeding had stopped, and it hadn?t, so she said to persevere. Just after seeing her, the bleeding stopped for two months but it?s started again.
The last smear test I had was the first that had come back ok in about 4 years of ?borderline changes? and other dodgy results so I had a smear every 6 months for quite a while, so I?ve only just gone back to 3 year screening. I never had a colposcopy or anything like that.
I went again this morning, to say I was still having the breakthrough bleeding and I was told that they can?t do another smear until they?ve exhausted all other avenues of infection/problems. So I had the works, she took blood to check for hiv/syphilis, and two sets of swabs for gonorrhea, chlamydia, thrush, HPV and something else. So, if these all come back negative (which I?m assuming they will, as I had a big check about 3 years ago which checked for everything and came back negative), I am only allowed to go back when I need a new pill prescription (which will be in four months), and if i?m still having the breakthrough bleeding they MIGHT be able to do an early smear for me.
Is the bleeding very concerning? A nurse told me a few years back that I had slight cervical erosion which may mean that sometimes I bleed after sex, but the bleeding now doesn?t time with this so I don?t think it?s the cervical erosion (which may be ok now, I don?t know). I haven?t had bleeding after sex for ages and ages.
Do I need to kick up a bit more of a fuss and try and push for an early smear test before my next appointment with the FPC, assuming all my tests come back ok?
Or am I being paranoid, and I should just wait? I?m just worried because although I?m still young-ish (28) an old school friend got cervical cancer when she was 22 (they wouldn?t give her a smear until she was 25, despite other symptoms etc) and she got secondary lung cancer and generally it?s been horrific. I?m scared that leaving it longer without a proper investigation (I?ll have had the bleeding for a year when I go in four months time, which seems a long time to me).
What does everything think? Should I just accept what they say and (assuming all tests are negative) go back in four months time and hope they give me an early smear? And what if they say I should just wait to be recalled as per my 3 years, which will be another 8 months from now?
For other background, I have no children and never been pregnant. Will also say I?ve been with the same partner for 6 years and we are faithful.
Sorry for the long post but I'm a bit
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General health
A year of breakthrough bleeding, been refused an early smear test - is this ok?
25 replies
CheeeseOnToast · 19/08/2010 11:54
OP posts:
sarah293 ·
25/08/2010 11:14
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