Smear tests during pregnancy ... are they necessary?

[Ghosty]

My friend is 14 weeks pregnant (she has two children already and had a late miscarriage between those two).
Her GP has told her she needs a smear test. Her last one was in April this year but he says that apparently cells change in pregnancy and everyone should have a smear test.
This is news to me ... I didn't have a smear when pg with either of my two and no one suggested it.
My friend is especially worried because of any risk of m/c and so has told the doctor that she doesn't want the smear. He has told her that she needs to find someone else for her pregnancy if that is the case.
Have any of you had a smear when pg? Was it OK/safe?
What do you think of what this doctor says?

I was under the impression that they didn't do smear tests when you are pregnant. I have frequent smears due to problems but when I was pregnant with dd they advised me not to have one. I thought this was due to a risk to the baby but when you are pregnant the cells do change and the result will not be accurate. I have never heard of smears being done in pregnancy.

It is not the first time I have heard this in NZ ... maybe it is unique here? I think Sibble was told to have one but she refused ...

I had an appointment for a smear test and found out I was pregnant and I would have been about 16 weeks by the time the smear test was due. My own doctor told me to cancel the appointment and wait until after the pregnancy 'because of the risk of miscarriage'. I'd personally find a new GP before having a test. Having said that, I had a suspected miscarriage at six weeks and had a full internal examination which was painful, but have still carried on with the pregnancy. My attitude is pregnancies are far too stressful as they are without the added complication of having someone scrape your insides out...obviously this is just my personal opinion and have no medical experience whatsoever.

The smear test only needs to wait 9 months, hardly worth the GP getting his/her knickers in a twist about...personally I'd get rid and write a letter of complaint as well.

Joe

Sorry, my first post says it is 'news' to me ... and then my second post says I have heard of it before ... doh ...
What I meant is that I have heard of it since being in NZ but never in the UK ... having said that my midwife here didn't suggest it ...

I too was overdue a smear test when pg with dd2, but was told to have it straight afterwards (did at 9 wks in the end and it bl*y hurt, much more than usual )

I too was due for a smear when I found out I was pregnant with dd. It was postponed until she was about 5 weeks or so.

Good, thanks folks ... will print this off for my friend. I do feel it is a bit of a strange thing to do ...

No need for a smear teats Ghosty. It should also not be done at 6 week check. Should wait at least 6 months post delivery. The cells due change in pregnancy and that is why a smear should not be done - it gives a false result.

Thanks for that mears ... will pass the words of the wise cyber M/wife on ...

My experience is that smear tests while pregnant are done routinely in the usa, but never in the uk.

message withdrawn

I had smears done at the beginning of both my pregnancies at the first pre-natal check up. (In the US.) It's standard here as far as I'm aware. (I had a different OB for each pregnancy.)