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Original poster

I have had an abnormal smear...what's next?

19 replies

HotSprocket · 07/10/2010 10:53

I had a smear a month ago and have just got a letter inviting me for a colposcopy appointment.

Has anyone had to go for one of these..What will happen? How long will it take (am breastfeeding every 3 hours so will i need to express)? Will it hurt?

Also what does abnormal smear mean? This letter is the first thing i have heard about it Confused

OP posts:
TheOldestCat · 07/10/2010 10:57

Please don't worry - this has happened to LOADS of us and is fairly straightforward.

I will find a good definition for you in a mo...

But don't panic - I had this done a few years ago (colposcopy - which didn't hurt, was just mild discomfort, and didn't take long - followed by 'loop diathermy' to remove the abnormal cells).

TheOldestCat · 07/10/2010 10:59

This is useful.

Eglu · 07/10/2010 11:01

I have had this too. I had the same treatment as TheOldestCat. It is a bit like a smear but takes a bit longer.

ConnorTraceptive · 07/10/2010 11:01

I had this. Colposcopy wasn't painfull at all being made to watch it "live" on a television screen wasn't great though!

Mine showed up absolutely nothing at all.

TheOldestCat · 07/10/2010 11:04

And this.

Haven't time to post much, but just wanted to reassure you that an abnormal smear could just mean that some of the cells on your cervix have changed slightly and will 'go back' to normal without any treatment. The colposcopy might confirm this and you'll be asked to go back for another smear in a few months to check.

Or you might, like me, need some of the cells removed in case, over a long time, they go from precancerous to something more serious. And that's straightforward too - I just had to have regular smears to check the cells haven't changed (they haven't).

An abnormal smear DOES NOT mean you have cancerous cells, so please don't worry.

Original poster
HotSprocket · 07/10/2010 11:09

Thank you! YOu are putting my mind at ease Smile

One more question..will i be told there and then if i need more treatment or do i need to wait around for a letter again?

OP posts:
ConnorTraceptive · 07/10/2010 11:12

I was told there and then if I remember correctly.

Original poster
HotSprocket · 07/10/2010 11:28

Thanks Connor.

Minor irritation - i have to go to the hospital miles and miles from my house and i don't have a car.

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fabsoopergroovy · 07/10/2010 11:34

I watched mine live on TV too but was given the choice. The most shocking thing for me was when the person doing the colposcopy said to me "this is a cotton bud" Confused and showed it to me in RL before it appeared on the screen as big as a baby's head!!!!

Don't worry at all, mine turned out just to be some sort of viral infection.

You don't feel a thing btw.

Original poster
HotSprocket · 07/10/2010 11:38

I quite like the idea of watching it.

I think it may hurt me a bit as myu stitches were buggered up after i had dd meaning anything going up there is awful I'll just grit my teeth and get on with it. I got through my smear test by repeating "it's not as sore as giving birth" over and over in my head.

OP posts:
TheOldestCat · 07/10/2010 14:30

I had a 'cone biopsy' at the same time as the colposcopy and had to wait for the results. But even though that sounds painful, it really didn't hurt and was over very quickly.

To be honest, the worst thing for me was the whole 'taking off your trousers and lying there' aspect in front of a stranger. This was before I had children. Now, of course, I don't give a monkey's!

Let us know how it goes and don't worry.

Original poster
HotSprocket · 07/10/2010 17:45

Thanks Cat.

I phoned my doctor to talk about it and she said my results were mild abnormality, so not too bad.

Only have to wait untill the 18th for my appointment so at least it will be over with quickly.

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passionberry · 07/10/2010 17:56

HotSprocket - could it be because you've had a baby recently?

I am going for a smear on Monday and I reckon it will be abnormal because I have had heavy discharge and a bit of bleeding after internal exams and after sex since I had dd in April- the doctor I saw about it in the Post-natal clinic at the hospital said my cervix looked inflamed but should go back to normal on it's own (??) and not to worry.

Anyway - I will see what they say to me on Monday. I didn't know childbirth could upset your cervix but apparently it can . . .

Original poster
HotSprocket · 07/10/2010 18:03

Thats interesting passionberry. When i went for my smear the nurse did say breastfeeding can effect the result so she wrote it on the notes so they could look out for it.

Guess i will just have to wait and see. I hope that is what it is!

OP posts:
BelaLugosiNoir · 08/10/2010 22:29

Hi
Some other useful links for you.
here, here, here,
Anything which affects your hormonal status can affect the reading, however we do try to take it into consideration but sometimes it's quite tricky to distinguish between post natal changes and abnormal ones, as there is an overlap of features.
The colposcopists website has really useful info.

diddl · 09/10/2010 09:32

I had a colposcopy & laser treatment.

Didn´t hurt at all.

Held the nurses hand really tight when I had an anaesthetic-which I didn´t feel.

Worse thing was the smell tbh.

And a pretty horrible discharge for a couple of days.

I didn´t watch the screen-it´s not compulsory!

Worse thing for me was you are at the end of the bed with legs in stirrups(?) & I had backache after.

Maybe because I´m so short (5ft)

ellaeleven · 09/10/2010 20:20

Just wanted to add I had a colposcopy a few months ago and it was fine. Had planned to go and do a tesco shop straight after but felt a bit uncomfortable as the local anaesthetic was wearing off so went home and filled a hot water bottle. Also the anaesthetic seemed to give my legs the shakes while in the stirrups and I remember looking at them and thinking why am I shaking I feel really calm and cant feel any pain but the doctor said it was my adrenalin kicking in. Dont be alarmed if you have a litle black discharge for a day or two. Its just the spray they use to show up any abnormal cells.
It seems to be very common among alot of the mums with babies I know to get an abnormal smear. I have a 9 month old. Maybe all the pregnancy and post childbirth hormones? I was told there and then I would need to have further treatment which I have had under general anaesthetic and again it was quick and pretty painless and now just some regular smears to keep check.
Good luck.

Meglet · 09/10/2010 20:33

IME a colposcopy is a better version of a smear test. I find the nurses more friendly and gentle. I also prefer the gynae chair instead of lying flat on a couch. The actual colposcopy only takes 5 mins but the nurses always go through my notes first and don't rush me to get changed / dressed. The clinic might be running late, but I would have thought 3 hours would be pretty unlikely.

Compared to diddl I am a wimp Grin, had diazepam for my first colposcopy & biopsy (I was scared of smear tests in those days, now I've lost count of the number of colposcopies I've had) and had a GA for the laser treatment.

Please don't panic about it, you are in the system and they will be checking you out and treating anything they don't like. The worst thing you can do is put it off.

Original poster
HotSprocket · 10/10/2010 18:46

Thanks everyone Smile

I just want it over and done with really, have to go to my doctors tomorrow anyway so i can ask a bit more about it then.

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