Smear test when pregnant??

[Kate3150]

Can I have one? Nearly 30 weeks, due one in November xx

I'm almost positive you can't. I had a cervical ectropion when I was 30 odd weeks and had to wait until after I have birth to get a smear. A friend of mine had one in early pregnancy before she knew she was pregnant and the nurse really struggled.

I don't think so. Just postpone it until a few months after you've given birth.

Nope, iirc they'll advise you to have it done once your postpartum bleeding stops .

Absolutely not. You have one at least 6 weeks later depending on your recovery.

Ok thanks everyone! I like to keep on top of them so will ask best time to have one after bubs here x

I was due one while pregnant and was told to book for when I was 12 weeks postpartum and no earlier.

No you can't, 3 months after birth is when to reschedule it for.

I'd suggest speaking to your gp. I had a colposcopy in early pregnancy and was due a further one at 30+ weeks which I rescheduled as I thought it would be uncomfortable but I was advised there was no risk.

I live in a different European country. Here they smear test every women at first scan between 6-12 weeks. So it obviously can be done during pregnancy

You can't have one. I was due one when I was pregnant. They delay it. You can't have it until 12 weeks after birth.

I was told your cells change when your pregnant so there was no point as it would not be an accurate result.

The NHS states

'' If you've previously had an abnormal result from a cervical screening test, or you haven't had a screening test in the last 3 to 5 years, you may need to have a screening test while you are pregnant. Your GP or midwife might ask you to have the test at your first antenatal appointment. This test is safe to have when you are pregnant.''

also says
''You may need to have a colposcopy (a close examination of your cervix and vagina) while you are pregnant. This is safe to have during pregnancy, and your doctor can see how much the cells on your cervix have changed.''

Therefore it is perfectly safe to have during pregnancy, and you should ask for one if you haven't had in the last 3 years. Its far safer to have a smear test, then find cancerous cells months too late.

Its simply as the results 'may' not be as clear so it isn't cost effective for the NHS. Like i said, in most other countries it is a standard procedure int he first trimester along with first scan etc as they want to make sure everything is clear for the pregnancy duration.

I’ve had to have two colposcopies whilst pregnant...

As a nurse trained in smears we are told not to take samples from pregnant ladies and to wait till they are 3 months postnatal. There is no evidence to show it risks the pregnancy but if something did happen the lady may blame the smear or herself for having the smear. It takes 3 months for the cervix to grow an adequate amount of cells to sample after giving birth.

Hope that helps.

Thanks everyone for all your responses! I will wait until the new year, will just make a note to remind myself to go 😘

@fluffyjumper can I ask if this is the same following miscarriage?

I had one in early pregnancy because I didn't know I was pregnant. Nothing happened as a result (that baby is now four years old!) but I wouldn't have had it if I'd known.

I was due one last year but I was 12 weeks pregnant. Had to wait until 3 months postpartum before you I could have one.