Smear test - do I go???

[sweetheart]

I finished my af on Monday but I still have a very small amount of brownish discharge. (only when going to the loo)

Should I go to the smeat test I have booked for this afternoon or put it off.

I've already put it off about 4 times as my dh and I are ttc and everytime it's booked I cancel it "just incase" it stops me getting preg????!!!!

We haven't bd since af so I know I'm not preg this time - if I put it off again I might miss ovulation - also I have a gyne appointment at the end of Sept so was hoping to have the smear results in time for that.
HELP!!!!

when i had my smear test they told me to come even if i was on my af. you could always ring them up and enquire. hopefully another mumsnetter knows what they're talking about as Ive only had the one smear test so far

I'll try ringing the surgery but I don't expect I'll get an answer!!!

Any other MN's know???

I had a smear this year with quite a lot a blood and they still managed to get a good result. You shouldn't have any problems with just a brownish discharge.

Message withdrawn

Well I didn't know that - wow, you really can ask ANYTHING on here can't you.

I might have to think up some wierd questions just to see if anyone knows the answers!!!!!

I had smear tests at the beginning of both my pregnancies at my first pre-natal check up.

My other smears have fortunately always not coincided with my period, and I've always wondered what I would do...

I was told by gynea that smear appts must be mid-cycle.

u shud definately go for ur smear!!!!
my friend just died at the young age of 28 due to cervical cancer which only took 8 months to spread through her....if she had gone for smears when she was supposed to...??? take care.x

I think most of the UK is now on Liquid Based Cytology, which means that your smear can be done at any stage of your cycle. However, in terms of cell quality, mid-cycle is still best.

The old method involved scraping your cells off then smearing them onto a glass slide and letting them dry. If blood is present, it smothers the cells, making them very difficult to see. The patient would then be recalled - a bit distressing!

The new method involves the cells being scraped but then being deposited in a bottle full of liquid. The bottle is then centrifuged (spun) to separate the blood from the cells. Cells then removed and smeared onto a slide - very clean.

For women like me with cervical erosion, the new liquid based method has ended repeat smears. I now only have to go every 3 years instead of trying every 6 months - yuk!

Phone your surgery and ask to speak to the nurse about what method they use and time your visit to suit.