Smear result - can anyone help?

[Ewe]

Just had my smear test results back and it says this...

"Dear Ewe

The result of your last cervical smear showed no definite abnormality but the laboratory has requested a repeat smear test in six months to clarify the situation.

Whilst there is nothing to worry about it is important that you attend and have this carried out so please make an appointment at the above specified time

Your sincerely
Doctor"

Now I know it says not to worry but obviously I am, what could require me going back in six months? No definite abnormality makes me think there might be one but they aren't sure.

Anyone know what this actually means?

TIA

There is probably very mild changes, but your body can extract these and then return to normal. They need to do a repeat in 6mths to make sure it is the case. You really don't need to worry. Have had this happen to me befoe and it was normal at the 6mth check

Ewe - this has happened to me on occassions too. sometimes to smear is badly taken or the results are inconclusive. maybe the smear is contaminated in some way. if it was anything serious I doubt your gp would wait 6 months.

My sister recently had a smear alert and had to go for biopsy etc - she was reassured that because of the frequency of tests done these days the chances of developing cervical cancer are highly reduced as it takes up to 10 years to fully develop (OK Jade Gooody is a bad example of how things go wrong and with her story on the front pages it is easy to worry...) Her results all came back OK.

Just best to keep an eye on it, but if you are really cooncerned - speak with your gp.

Great, thank you, that is reassuring. I just thought it was either there is a problem, or there isn't, I didn't realise there was a middle ground.

Will try and not think about it! It was only my second smear as my first one came back saying that they couldn't get enough information from the sample so had to go back again. I am in my early twenties and was just expecting it to be totally normal!

Hallo, I work in a screening lab.
Ok, does the letter say 'borderline changes' or 'borderline nuclear changes' or 'borderline nuclear abnormality'?
Does it have a code 8R?

What this means is:
There is a clear difference down the microscope between cells which appear active due to normal reasons (see below) and cells which changes due to an abnormality.

Sometimes we can see quite active cells which is probably due to things like hormonal changes (esp those in late teens, early twenties, post-natal or post-menopausal) or an infection or IUCD use. Sometimes as shortandsweet says its just a slight change seen in the cells. It is a grey area - cytology isn't quite the same as blood tests, we don't get a yes/no answer.

When we seen these sorts of cells, we ask for a repeat sample in 6 months to give the body a chance to settle down or sort it out (as shortandsweet) says.
Most of the time it goes back to normal.
Usually after the next one, you'd be asked to come back in either another 6 months or a years time (it varies between area, then in another year's time before going back to 3 yearly.

The screening programme has a website which also has useful info.

HTH

Bella, thank you, that is unbelievably helpful.

Said nothing about borderline changes etc, it is literally word for word as above. I am early 20s and post-natal (10 months at time of smear, not sure if that would be recent enough to make a difference?) so I guess it's not beyond the realms of possibility that it is due to hormonal changes.

Will set myself an outlook reminder to book one in six months and hopefully that one will be ok.

Well, it could be - but obviously I can't say for sure
You should be sent a letter by the call/recall agency in about 5 months time to remind you to go for a follow-up test.
Your practice gets a 'prior notification list' every month to tell them which women are being called for a test in 2 months time. This allows them to let the agency know if someone's preggers, moved away, travelling etc and also how many people need appointments.
They will often use this to then send you a letter from the practice, possibly with an appointment, but there's no harm at all in being proactive!

Glad to help

I got my NHS letter through today which was MUCH clearer than the one from my doctors surgery, had a very reassuring leaflet with it too that said everything you did and mentioned that there were borderline changes and to come back in 3-6 months.

They also said they would send me a reminder letter too - not that I can imagine forgetting, am a bit health anxious at the best of times!