Told I can't have a smear test until

[sweetdreams30]

I had a baby a 4 months ago. I've had two episodes of where I've wiped and there's been a tiny amount of blood in the cm. I've also had bad back pain and tenderness in the c section pouch. On top of that I've a huge amount of cm more than I've ever had even when I was ttc and trying every trick in the book to naturally increase it. I haven't had a smear test in years due to having two children one after the other but I rang to get one done due to feeling slightly worried and was told I needed to wait till I get a period and then go 2 weeks later. AIBU to think this doesn't sound right?

You must have not read the first paragraph...
You will not usually need to have cervical screening if you're pregnant, or could be pregnant, until at least 12 weeks after you've given birth. This is because pregnancy can make it harder to get clear results.

That’s not right I’m on cezaette and I don’t have periods, I went for my smear no problem.

you can definitely go. they are wrong. i went 12 weeks after my baby was born. hadnt had a period yet. no problem at all. they were actually asking me in other appointments "have you booked your smear yet" and i had to keep saying "yes, for 12 weeks after the birth, as per guidelines"

Purple daisies is right, if you are having issues you need to see your GP not get a routine smear. That said the things you are describing could well just be because you’ve just had a baby. See your GP.

The receptionists will be told to book women in 2 weeks after their period, this is the standard time to do routine smears, so that’s why you’ve been told that. But if you’re having issues that’s not routine and you need to see a GP first.

But what about women who lose their periods due to contraception? Surely this would mean they couldnt have it either?

I was having symptoms and my GP wouldn’t do a smear- she said it was just a screening tool not meant for those who have symptoms. She did an internal and I had a trans vaginal ultrasound as well to check for problems. It was a cyst in the end causing the problems

That's ridiculous. I haven't had a period in over two years (my twins are 16 months old). I had a smear test a few months after they were born. You need to go back in.

I’ve had two smears whilst on the contraceptive injection (so no periods for over 5 years) and this was never mentioned (not sure if I should be concerned or not now!)

I'm on the implant and have to deal with regular (and quite invasive) spotting. This might make you wince but my midwife wiped my cervix clean to get her sample. My results came back normal. Persist - it is absolutely possible.

Practice nurse here reiterating it must be three months post natal for a smear, any nurse is wrong who does it sooner. Those are national guidelines. You also just can't request a smear for abnormal bleeding if it's not due, again, national guidelines. The lab will bin any done out of sync. You need swabs and a GP review. You also don't need to be mid cycle.

It'll be that the receptionist will have been told to arrange them for around 2 weeks after a woman's period as apparently halfway through your cycle is the ideal time for a smear.

However, as you have had some bleeding I would book a GP appointment as they can book you for more appropriate testing, a smear is just for screening, not for if you have symptoms.

You also don't need to be mid cycle

You don't but all the information sent out by my local trust advises to be mid cycle, so that's when receptionists will try to book it for. They just advise you of that over the phone though, they don't insist upon it.

You can have them before your periods return postnatally. I have done twice. At my most recent when they asked my last period date I said May 2017 because I've been pregnant and now breastfeeding, it wasn't a problem.

Are you do one? I had one done 3 months pp (I had had a period by then, despite ebf!!) but they didn’t even ask or care. If you have no luck with your gp, try making an appointment at your local GUM/sexual health clinic. That’s where I get mine done. I work in sexual health (but at a different clinic) and I’ve been really impressed with how good they are with smears there.

Total misinformation or a misunderstanding - I bf for 3 years after my second & didn’t get my period back until 2.5 years after the birth. I was due a smear a test a year after he was born & had it. There may be a post partum length of time - but surely not a ‘you must have had a period’ rule?

FWIW, i had my smear about 8 weeks after a forceps and episiotomy birth 😬😬 that was 2 years ago.... it was actually a breeze compared to labour!

This is most likely a case of the receptionist not understanding the guidelines. The app 2 weeks after your period thing is so they can be reasonably sure you won’t be bleeding during the app and they have to cancel it, wasting a slot. I didn’t have periods for 18 months after DD1, had my smear at 4months pp as it was due when I was pregnant. Similar situation with DD2.

To make life easier, I would tell a white lie to the receptionist. Ring again Monday, tell her you got your period over the weekend so she books the appointment. Then when you see the nurse be honest with her. Sorted.

To make life easier, I would tell a white lie to the receptionist

Please don’t do this. The important thing isn’t the smear test. It’s seeing a gp. The op has symptoms. She doesn’t need a screening test.

If you have symptoms you are concerned about, you need to see a GP, not have a routine smear test. A smear test does not diagnose why you are bleeding.

If you are due your routine smear test, you need to have a smear test. They are usually done from 3 months after having a baby. Mid cycle is ideal but you can have them at other times, or if you aren't having periods.

I went for a smear yesterday due to unexplained post menopausal bleeding, and the nurse refused to do it until I had been referred by the GP or until I had received a letter inviting me for one. I thought I was doing the right thing by just booking a smear myself. I now have to book, a GP appointment, possibly get referred to gynae, and then wait for a referral for a smear test. It's bonkers

The nurse was absolutely correct. You need an examination looking for reasons for bleeding and probably an ultrasound of your uterus and/ or a gynaecology referral, not a smear test. A smear test does not diagnose why someone is bleeding. It is a screening test for people who don't have symptoms.

I would like to reiterate what a couple of people have said above - if you are worried and have symptoms, then a smear test is not the right investigation, you need to see a GP who can then investigate further if necessary.

This is because smear tests are designed to work in a population that doesn't have any symptoms; if you do have symptoms you could be falsely reassured that everything is ok by a negative smear.

Its 3 months, I've just had mine. They did ask about my periods

Thank you everyone who answered. I will definitely make an appointment to speak to my GP. It's probably nothing but I had abnormal cells before so I was having a panic. X

I’m really worried now. Why did the nurse do my smear at 8 weeks post partim if the results are going to be sent back??
It was actually a really difficult test for reasons I won’t go into, I’ll be really upset to have done it for nothing and have to re-do....

Not read all the replies but guessing a standard routine smear test with a nurse probably has different rules for someone who was concerned and has symptoms?