To demand screening from my GP?

[vinc]

I had a late miscarriage in October. I 'thought' my period had returned on 2nd December this month but then it turned out just to be a couple of hours of very 'light' bleed.

Then on and off from then, I've had random red or pink spotting, sometimes a little more than spotting. I've had spotting at random since mid/late November.

I'm getting a bit fed up now, just sat on the loo recently to discover another 'light' period bleed, only a couple of weeks on from the first.

AIBU to ask my GP to make sure this isn't cervical cancer?

I sound intense but my dad's mother died of it at 25. I never knew her and I don't know him, so not really much to go on medical history wise. But cancers on both sides of my biological family are common and at a young(ish) age too.

I stopped bleeding 5 days after losing my DD, and 7 days after that it was completely normal, no spotting whatsoever etc.

Then the random spotting started in late November

YANBU to see your GP to discuss the bleeding - they will probably want to take a history and likely have a look at your cervix. YABU to demand screening - screening is for people with no symptoms and unless your cervical screen is due / overdue they can’t just send off a sample - it will be rejected by the lab. A smear test also won’t look for other causes of bleeding too.
There’s a good chance it’s just hormones playing up after the miscarriage but please do get checked out by your GP.

No, don't demand anything. Discuss it with your GP

@PinkDaffodil2 - I’m genuinely shocked if that is true and a GP cannot use their discretion to determine when a test needs to be run. Then again, assuming you’re in the UK I am routinely horrified by how very over regulated and patriarchal the NHS is.

OP, I had some irregular bleeding and my GP had a look at my cervix and checked for cervical cancer with a Pap smear (both the one that checks to see if you have HPV and the one that looks for abnormal cells). Most likely you are just recovering from a miscarriage but I fully understand the need for peace of mind, especially at such a stressful time. Should they refuse I would push the GP to explain why they are not screening you given the family history.

Irregular periods are common especially after a hormonal event, hopefully u will settle down soon. Cervical screening is every 5 years. However u can pay privately to have one now if it will give u peace of Mind m

Clucky - Am not a medic so this may be slightly off the mark but as I understand it - its the difference between screening and diagnostic/exploratory investigation. Screening is a filtration approach whereas if the OP visits her GP and explains her recurrent issues and family history it is more likely that the GP will refer her directly into more specialist diagnostic services which would cover more than just cervical cancer screening, so actually she'll be getting a more comprehensive response that just being put back in the screening system.

Any medics please do feel free to correct me if my interpretation is off the mark.

Have you ever had a smear test OP?

Cervical cancer isn’t inherited, it’s normally caused by a virus that most of us come into contact with (HPV) so I wouldn’t worry about you being predispositioned to it, in some people it can persist and turn into cancer but this can take a long time.

Any unexplained bleeding should be discussed with a GP though.

That said, sadly, I've seen many a thread on here describing poor GP interactions with female patients, too easily writing off concerns. But a decent GP shouldn't just dismiss but the OP may have to 'fight her corner' or visit another GP - but the focus shouldn't just be on cervical screening but unexplained bleeding which could have various causes.

Best wishes OP, I hope it resolves itself and you get a decent response from your GP

I've never had a smear test (I'm too young). And since if it is anything more sinister, and if it was what I'm looking for peace of mind on, a smear wouldn't be any good anyway as I thought the actual screening for cancer was different?

It's reassuring to know cervical cancer isn't hereditary.

I'm also having bad lower back pain (most noticeable at work and in the mornings), and my urine is the colour of red wine (although this could be UTI related as I had one 4 weeks ago...)

Bleeding also occurs after sex and is extremely uncomfortable

As said above, screening is not appropriate for someone with actual current symptoms of what may or may not be cervical cancer. They would not screen you in these circumstances but arrange for the necessary diagnostic tests to be carried out to investigate your problem.

Screening is just to check there is nothing brewing. With symptoms the investigation would be somewhat different.

So yes, YABU to insist on screening. Screening is not what you need here.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your dear baby.

You absolutely should make an appointment with your GP and make sure you keep pushing (if you need to) until you are thoroughly examined. It is highly likely that you are absolutely fine but it is not worth taking any risks with your health.

I am so sorry for your loss

The bleeding after sex is the bit that needs discussion x

Cervical cancer isn’t inherited Its my understanding that in some cases there can be a 'familial' link with cervical abnormalities (disclaimer no medical training just a family history that I have researched) so its always worth looking in to this.

Hope you get some answers soon OP and start to feel better. So sorry about your miscarriage

My sister has symptoms very close to you.

She had a smear and the results are abnormal tissue that she had to have off, biopsies taken and waiting to hear back, shes just 25.

Please talk to your doctor, tell her all your symptoms and your families history

My sisters doctor was very interested to hear the family history of cancer and the fact alot of my family have had abnormal cells present. My other sister when she was only 18... If she had waited till her smear at 25, it would of been very bad news.

Talk to your doctor OP and hopefully you will have tests and be reassured

Side not... Back pain with red wine urine could be a kidney problem.
A blood test would be a good place to start.

Have you had a STI check recently? Bleeding in between periods can be a symptom of chlamydia or gonorrhoea. Might be worth a check if you've not had one in a while.

Post coital bleeding is a reason to do a smear test. However it could be a cervical erosion which is not serious.
Cervical cancer is essentially a sti. You say you are too young for a smear, did you have the hpv injections if you did your probably ok. However you should be entitled to a smear test.

Hi op, as said above cervical cancer is not hereditary however having mutated brca1 or brca2 cells can cause ovarian/cervical/breast cancer rates to increase significantly and as high as 70% chance over a lifetime, my family has this and whilst I have not inherited these genes close family have and have taken preventive measures. Whilst I really don’t want to worry you if it is bugging you about a family history of these types of cancers it is only a simple blood test to confirm this is/isn’t the case then you can act accordingly. If it’s clear you have no higher risk than the rest of the population; however they usually only test for this in nhs if there is proven family members who were positive for these genes but very easy to get done privately and quick too only had to wait 5 days for mine to come back, think it was around £139 for the test which seems a lot but the peace of mind is priceless if the family history really worries you xx

Sorry for your loss.
Pp are correct in saying you can't 'demand' a smear test as I suppose they would have people who were just worried for no reason wanting the test more frequently than routinely offered.
However it is like everything else, if you are symptomatic and the gp believes they are grounds for investigation you will be referred to a gynae who will carry out the appropriate tests.

It’s a screening test for women with no symptoms to catch early changes - there is a very good evidence base for why it’s safest run the way it is. Sending women with symptoms just for a smear risks missing other pathology such as endometrial cancer - and if the history / examination is concerning then you would skip straight to colposcopy urgently.
Inappropriate use of screening in this instance would risk missing other pathology or introducing an unnecessary delay if there was cervical disease.