Smear test - pink/orange cervix and quick to bleed. So scared. [GRAPHIC PHOTO DOWNTHREAD] - edited by MNHQ

[Sarah3940]

Does anyone have any experience of the above? Been having moderate lower back pain for a few weeks (had sciatica since a back injury a year ago but it’s playing up at the moment), and one instance of spotting a few days after my period. Saw the GP yesterday who inspected my cervix and said it was a pinky orange colour and bled very easily on contact. She’s sent the swab off and told me she will refer me to a gynaecologist whether the swab comes back negative or not. I’ve been told to call back in a week for my results. I last had a smear exactly a year ago which came back fine, and the nurse didn’t comment on my cervix looking abnormal at all.

I am absolutely petrified that it’s cancer, I have a young daughter who I can barely be in the same room as today. Just in constant tears. I had a normal blood test last month, inflammation level was normal. Please if anyone can give me some advice or support I would be so grateful.

Just wanted to update, I visited a private gynaecologist this morning and after a thorough exam and transvaginal scan, he has given me the all-clear for any evidence of disease anywhere in my pelvic area, which is fantastic and a big relief. He thinks my pinky/orangey/red patch is a Nabatholin cyst, and he showed me some pictures online of what it looked like. He said it presents nothing like cancer, but if I want a colposcopy I can have on for peace of mind (it’s free with the private treatment so I might as well).

To say I’m relieved and grateful is a massive understatement, but this has been such a wake up call about my mental health, which after a number of shocks and upsetting incidents over the past five years is at an all-time low. I’m going to chat to my GP next week about starting on Sertraline, and I hope it might bring me back to a level of stability that I’m really lacking right now.

Just in case anyone ever finds this thread when frantically googling cervical or pelvic problems, I will add that the consultant thought I was a bit bonkers to be so worried after a few weeks of back and leg ache, and a single incident of spotting straight after my period (although I had one more today which again he said fits a pattern so wasn’t concerning him pre-scan). He said he would expect much more severe and ongoing symptoms to present for there to be any real worry of ‘frank cancer’ as he called it. He said that in regards to the spotting, cancer doesn’t behave like that and there would be many more random incidences of bleeding throughout the month, and accompanying pelvic/stomach pain. I’m not trying to put anyone off checking, please do get checked out, but just to reassure anyone who might tend to overreact about illness/health anxiety, a tiny bit of spotting and a bit of mild backache is unlikely to be anything terminal (but please do get checked anyway, just don’t worry yourself in to a catatonic state of madness like I did this week!!).

@checkedroses I can’t thank you enough. If I ever see you getting shit off anyone in AIBU I will come charging to your defence!! X

*second incident of spotting was also two days post-period, just for accuracy!

That's great news, so glad you can relax now! All the best with speaking to your GP next week

@Sarah3940 I had a Nabothian cyst a couple of years back. My OH actually felt it and was like there a a lump down there. I was rapidly referred to a gynaecologist who took a look and confirmed it was a cyst and absolutely nothing to worry about. This was 4 years ago. I also had ectropion during my third pregnancy in 2018 (which sadly ended in MC) I’ve been having light bleeding, lower back pain and abdominal pain recently too. Been to my GP (who is excellent) she checked my cervix and said it all looked fine, my last smear (March/April this year) was also clear which she said was massively reassuring.

Just wanted to add that I also suffer with HA. It took me a year to seek help with it, it got to the point where it was unbearable for months, it ate away at my life. I thought I had a brain tumour, MND, cervical, stomach and pancreatic cancer all at the same time. I should’ve gone sooner - I was put on sertraline and life is so much better now. I don’t feel numb, I’m enjoying life, have more energy, sleep better, don’t have the thoughts as often and when I do I don’t spiral into despair like I used to.