So, today I went for a long overdue smear, and have left worried!!!

[lanismum]

Today was my first ever smear , I had made an appointment to go in june, but discovered I was pregnant, miscarried in july, so finally went for the test today, the nurse at my surgery did the test, made me bleed quite a bit, normal?
Anyway, after the test she commented on my cervix, and said I had the cervix of a woman who has had a LOT of children I only have 2, 1 of which was delivered by c section, she also said my cervix being so open was why I had the miscarriage, yet when I was seen in A&E whilst pregnant, I was told it was closed and looked fine (obv it later opened as I did lose the baby, but it wasnt the cause iykwim), the nurse said to wait 6 months before getting pregnant again, she also said I would get preg very easily with my cervix being so open......so to take precautions.............has anyone else had their cervix commented on like this? I want to ttc again but am worried if I do a miscarriage will be inevitable?
I thought I would feel better after getting the smear done, but now I just feel worried!

[zazen]

I would give the nurse a ring and tell her that you are upset by her comments X Y and Z and you want to schedule an appointment with someone more professional. Last time I was in having mine they all couldn't believe the size of my 12inch crash section scar - my gynae saying - "who did that to you? You could have lifted an elephant out of there. There's no call for that, I would have rapped their knuckles if they had been on my team". LOVELY!!! had such a sob afterwards. I don't think they think actually.

Well done on going for your smear/s everyone. There is such variation in cervix shape, but usually after carrying a child the opening is larger and more oval and for a woman who has never carried a child the opening is smaller and round.

Sorry about your experience OP - hope you feel better soon.

[cupsoftea]

the nurse sounds like someone who reads palms - oh I see that you'll be rich & famous and this bit here means you'll be moving house......

would see the gp & tell them what you were told as it's not fair for her to say these things when she's not qualified to do so.

[asicsgirl]

at all these nurses! i thought the thread about checkout staff who comment on your shopping was bad enough...

[misspopov]

I was advised not to have a smear for six months after my miscarriage. My regular appointment letter came through about ten weeks after mc.I went up to the surgery for the appointment but the nurse asked me to wait six months as the cervix takes a while to settle down afterwards and she said she didn't want to cause me any more distress if things were not properly settled. Didn't really understand what that meant but it might have some bearing on things I would probably complain to the GP about her insensitivity.

[LilRedWG]

She sounds very insensitive and TBH I'd probably complain to my GP.

At my last smear I was told that if I ever needed to find my cervix to look, "right at the back and to the right - it's really hooked over!"

[PuppyMonkey]

I got told that everything looked "completely normal down there" at my last smear. I was so proud.

Glad you have taken a light hearted look at what happened. I can imagine some women would have been in bits at the insensitive misunderstanding about a miscarriage/abortion.

I always bleed after a smear too. Think it's quite normal.

There I go with my normal stuff again...

[Swedes]

[Idobelieveinfairies]

Blimey! It's all going on.......i am wondering what a cervix that has had a lot of children is like? [paranoid]

googling.......

[ibbydibby]

I agree with others that it is worth discussing with your GP.

Can I do a slight hijack here please? I also had a scan yesterday and the nurse asked me if I knew I had a polyp "up there". As I did not know, she very quickly dismissed it as "nothing to worry about" especially as it had not been causing any symptoms (such as bleeding between periods). But when I got home I googled this (as you do) and found that most mentions of cervical polyps involved their removal.

So I am now wondering

a) if I should have queried this further with the nurse,
and
b) do I need to go and see GP to discuss,
or
c)if there is something amiss will it come up on smear test results

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer!

[SparklyGothKat]

I was told that my cervix is very high and faces backwards. Apparently that is why I convieve very easily..

[policywonk]

(Swedes, cod is looking for you. She says she catted you and you didn't reply. )

[Swedes]

[Ozziegirly]

When I had my last smear the nurse said "you're very tense, are you planning on trying for a family soon?" which made me assume she thought I was this tense with my DH.

I muttered something non committal but felt like saying "I'm not tense with my husband but that's because his nob isn't metal, cold and we don't normally bonk in a draghty room with me in a paper gown, in my lunch hour".

So i think sometimes they just chatter for the sake of it.

I had to ask one nurse not to narrate what she was doing with the speculum.

[NorthernLurker]

lanismum - compliments on your good attitude to this!

[smoggie]

I always get told "ooh your cervix is very high". Pre children one practice nurse rather flippantly said "ooh you'll probably have difficulty conceiving"!!! At my last one in Jan. she said "oooh, oooh, do you get pain during sex" ?Eh WTF? "If it becomes problematic come and see the GP".

Lanismum - I think your nurse was v unprofessional. I would get an appt with your GP to seek another opinion and also make it known to him/her the inappropriate comments that were made.

[lanismum]

spacepuppy, I am roughly mid cycle, and did mention that could be the reason, and she said yeah it does open a bit, but not that much the shame!

Claire, I prefer your comment to mine

[Swedes]

Why is it a compliment to have a tight cervix? Why?

[Swedes]

I actually have got an incompetent cervix. It wasn't diagnosed by a practise nurse.

[Claire236]

I was told that I was tight & that you'd never guess I'd had a baby when I had a smear once. I suppose that's a compliment but it's just a touch inappropriate.

[SpacePuppy]

just a thought, don't know where you are in your cycle, but if you are ovulating or near ovulating your cervix will be high and "open"!.

[lanismum]

I'm not sure I can face saying to my gp 'but she said I had a baggy cervix' but I will mention it I think, as I saw the funny side, and I am pretty sure my cervix is ok, it held my 2 dds in just fine, but, it might put somebody else off going for smears, which would not be good.

[NorthernLurker]

Thanks - I'll pass on that for now

Actually in all seriousness if somebody said something 'critical' about any part of my 'undercarriage' as it were I'm not sure I would ever be able to go back! I'm fairly robust about most things but that would upset me - you should definately make a bit of a fuss if you can bear to.

[lanismum]

Come and get a smear test at my surgery, i'm sure she will find something to mention!

[NorthernLurker]

D'y'know I've never been told anything about my cervix at all! Feel a bit left out tbh

[LittleMyDancing]

Forever, you mean you don't locate your cervix on a regular basis? In which case, how do you know it's still there?

I got told mine was upside down.