To want a second opinion

[anxiousavo]

Went for a smear test this morning as was told by my nurse that I had to wait 3 months as I'd had a "termination of pregnancy" recently.

I had not. I had only taken the morning after pill which everyone knows is emergency contraception, not an abortive pill.

The nurse insisted that the morning after pill and abortive pill were considered under the same umbrella of "termination of pregnancy".

This made me uneasy and I've not been able to find anything online which says that taking the morning after pill warrants not getting a smear for at least 3 months.
I've also never heard of the morning after pill being considered a termination...

Has anyone been told this?

AIBU for wanting to check with my GP on monday if I really need to wait 3 months/if this rule is factual?

That's utter rubbish! Are you sure that she was real nurse?

My smear was due during my pregnancy and I was advised to wait for three months after birth to have it done. I assumed it was something to do with hormones going a bit peculiar. Perhaps this is similar.

It could perhaps be in case the MAP didn't work and there's a possible pregnancy (if within the last few weeks) or as above for hormones that may last a few months. However, I would have expected her to explain that to you! That is also just a guess, I would definitely be checking with your GP and asking the reasons

Thanks @Ileflottante @Lou98 that makes sense.

She mentioned something about the cells regenerating after 3 months - presumably to do with the MAP needing to go clear before the smear could be done.

I just struggled to find anything about this online which is why it came as a huge shocker to me. Also her calling the MAP a TOP (termination of pregnancy) - apparently it's jargon the use - made me feel as though she could've been confusing information about two separate issues...

She sounds thick as two short planks. The morning after pill isn’t termination of a pregnancy.

Definitely check.

Some medical terms are not particularly sensitive but it’s just the classification of clinical outcomes/treatment so try not to focus on that.

For example, it sucks clinically being termed a ‘geriatric’ pregnancy for being over 35, but there’s no judgement attached, it’s just a clinical term.

@Franpan

She sounds thick as two short planks. The morning after pill isn’t termination of a pregnancy.

Definitely check.

I don’t think this is a very helpful or particularly pleasant comment.

She’s wrong. MAP is contraception - ie is to prevent pregnancy for occurring. TOP is ending an established pregnancy.

She’s just wrong and I’d complain that the nurse appears not to know the basics.

Ileflottante

I think it’s answering the OP clearly and directly, so 🤷🏻‍♀️

it’s just the classification of clinical outcomes/treatment so try not to focus on that

But the nurse is wrong.

The nurse may be wrong. I didn’t know either way, I was just sharing my experience around pregnancy and speculating that it may be something to do with hormones.

I was also saying that the way the nurse classified the MAP may be in line with seemingly insensitive clinical classifications, but again, I didn’t profess to know.

I maintain that saying a nurse was thick as two short planks is unhelpful, however.

I maintain that saying a nurse was thick as two short planks is unhelpful, however.

I suppose that’s up to the OP, and not really for you to say.

And I didn’t say she is - I don’t know her. I said she sounds, which is a subjective opinion arrived at by me on the basis of what is said in the OP.

Sorry @anxiousavo I fear your thread has been slightly hijacked.

If you’re concerned, request a second opinion. From what scant info I’ve found online, it seems to say that pregnancy and some hormonal contraceptives can cause an abnormal result that’s not abnormal, so the three month window is to allow anything to settle down. But if you’re worried, give them a call and ask. Also request clarification on the way she classified MAP with a medical termination.