Smear test - cells normal, but infection present?

[user1488590470]

Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone's got any insight into what my smear test results may mean. I don't know know when I'll be able to find out more and internet research has left me confused.

A few days ago I got a letter from NHS England saying my results were normal and I'd be invited back in 3-5 years, but today I got a letter from my surgery saying my cervical screening had "been reported as normal" but "the laboratory has detected an infection which it is important to treat as soon as possible." It then asks me to "make an appointment to see a practitioner." Welp, don't know when that'll happen as surgery can't offer a pre-booked appt till mid-September, so I just have to keep calling back and trying to get an on the day appointment, or convince a receptionist to convince a practice nurse to look at the lab results and tell me what kind of infection it is.

The first thing I was worried about was an STD, but from what I've read online, smear test samples aren't tested for those (though would lab techs notice consequences of them, eg inflammatory debris or something?). HPV is apparently tested for in some areas, but everything I read on that associated it with abnormal cells, and mine are apparently normal. So...anyone have any idea what a lab might pick up that would result in a letter like this? It's driving me a bit nuts not knowing if I've got syphilis or a yeast infection!

Last thing I knew if you had HPV it was in the same letter as your results and they don't test for anything else. Sorry I can't help but do keep us updated.

Thanks Comps83 - I'll try to update the thread as/when I find out more.

Probably thrush.

smears can pick up a variety of infections and they are usually false positive, but I do call women in and make sure they have no symptoms of the infection. very unlikely to be anything to worry about if you don't fe you're at risk of an STD

Is it possible that as part of the smear test they are also testing for HPV?

TBH with a letter like that I think you should be booking an emergency appointment.

Years ago, I had the same thing. Got a letter after I had a smear saying I had an infection and to make a Doctor's appointment.

Of course I worried I that had some horrendous STD, but it was just thrush.

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling better reading these replies. Much appreciated. I've also done some searching of this forum and have found another person saying this happened to them and it was thrush, and someone else saying actinomycetes bacteria had been detected. Both of these much better than some of the STDs I was imagining!

I can't remember how well the dates align, but I did have symptoms of thrush for a few days earlier this month, so it could well be that.

Update: thrush! The doctor said if I was no longer having symptoms, which is the case, it was up to me whether I wanted to be written a prescription anyway, to buy my own stuff at the pharmacy or to just leave it, which was the option I chose. She said she'd had a patient in earlier this week who'd had the same letter and the same outcome, and that this person had been quite worried. I do feel they might want to re-think the wording, or at least make it easier to follow up if you get a letter like that. Still, all's ended well.

You're right they should, it's causing unnecessary stress

Bingo! Knew it would be thrush.

Much ado about nothing - it is very stressful.