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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Smear tests and miscarriage risks? Feel like I'm choosing whether to risk cancer or miscarriage

21 replies

failedmum · 27/01/2022 18:17

I had my first ever smear test last year and I tested positive for a high risk strain of HPV, but no cell changes were found. I'm now pregnant, and have had my letter for my yearly follow up. I rang my GP and I explained that I am pregnant so I know it would usually be delayed, but that after my first smear being positive I'm concerned that I may of been positive for years, and I don't want to delay it 11 months (3 month after baby's born) and then find out it's progressed into something scary. He agreed and said that it can go ahead due to this.

I had a little google, and I'm a bit worried now. There are a lot of things saying it is safe, but I found a petition online from a heartbroken mum saying she miscarried the day after smear, it had hundreds of signatures with lots of mums with similar horror stories and of course it could be anecdotal and they were going to miscarry regardless but they all feel differently and there's many comments like this that all just say do not risk it.

Now I feel really anxious and at odds, I've been worrying for weeks about missing my smear after the high risk result last year but now I feel equally worried about getting my smear.

I feel like I'm trying to decide between cancer and a miscarriage! I know that's dramatic but that's how it feels?

Smear tests and miscarriage risks? Feel like I'm choosing whether to risk cancer or miscarriage

OP posts:

FTEngineerM · 27/01/2022 18:22

To be honest, the amount of checking they do of your cervix towards the end a little tickle from a smear brush would faze me.

I know there have been some women who have miscarried.. that doesn’t mean it’s a certainty though. There isn’t a way of knowing what caused the miscarriage anyway.

FTEngineerM · 27/01/2022 18:22

Wouldnt***

HeyBlaby · 27/01/2022 18:25

She might have eaten fish and chips the day before too, doesn't mean that caused the miscarriage either.

SummerHouse · 27/01/2022 18:30

I see it's a difficult dilemma. But you are choosing between two very low risk things.

I would personally not have the smear. The risk of going from no changes to cancer in that time frame is tiny. Only a minority of women with HPV present will go on to have cell changes. Only a minority of of those will see the changes go from low to high grade, a smaller yet number see that progress to cancer, and it's a very slow process.

That said, this is clearly a worry for you. Could you speak again to your GP about your concerns?

SummerHouse · 27/01/2022 18:34

Sorry OP I commented without really thinking. I have just done some basic research and I think, on balance, I would have the smear if recommended by GP.

RoseMAR · 27/01/2022 18:41

Sorry you're going through this OP, what an awful position to be in.

I think if it were me I'd discuss things with your midwife, but would be inclined to go for the smear - for two reasons. Reason one is if I were you and I didn't, I spend the next 11 months worrying about it whereas the risk of MC I'd know that I'd be checked, monitored and that once a few weeks had passed after the smear the risk was back to normal for MC. Secondly, IF anything were to come back sinister for your smear, you want to be in the best health for your baby, whereas waiting and finding out down the line there is an issue (big IF again), means you'll be poorly.

Just my opinion, but speaking to your MW OP she'll be able to offer you some great advice and support. Xx

Lauren0902 · 27/01/2022 18:41

I would personally have the smear. I went from no symptoms to big changes and requiring a cone biopsy to remove cells in less than a year. I would like to think that a brush of the cervix wouldn't cause any damage, however if you were to require any further treatment then a decision would need to be made

Frlrlrubert · 27/01/2022 18:43

Could you have it in later pregnancy? Would
That be safer as the miscarriage risk is lower after the first trimester?

I'm not sure if it's possible, just thinking out loud.
If possible, I think I'd see if I could have it in later pregnancy, and if not I'd wait.

I had HPV and minor cell changes in my first smear and both had resolved by the next, but I know how stressful it is waiting.

MadeForThis · 27/01/2022 18:45

Is there a point in the pregnancy when the miscarriage risk would be lower? In the third trimester?

Original poster

failedmum · 27/01/2022 19:11

I'm not really sure because it's more anecdotal things I'm finding about the miscarriage risk rather than studies (doesn't appear many/any have happened?) I just have this fear that I'll have the smear which in my head is the sensible thing to do and that the worst will happen and I'll beat myself up forever for doing it. It wasn't easy to conceive so I would hate for the worst to happen. But then I keep having visions of having my smear in 11 months, so nearly 2 years after my high risk positive and things will have changed to the point they can't be fixed

OP posts:

Footnote · 27/01/2022 19:23

I was pregnant in a country where a smear is standard at the 8 w ultrasound (which I don’t think you have in the UK) and the miscarriage rate in that country is no higher than anywhere else. Have the smear.

ChloeHel · 27/01/2022 19:24

Hi OP. Definitely have the smear. It’s just as invasive as having sexual intercourse, all the equipment they use is sterile so little to no risk of infection. I don’t know how many weeks you are but I have just had to have a speculum used to test for an infection and I am 3 weeks. All ok :)

crimblecrumbles · 27/01/2022 19:44

I'm in the same boat. I spoke to both midwife and gp and I'm going to wait until after the baby is born. I know it's not idea but I don't want to risk a miscarriage. It's a tricky choice and unfortunately there is no right decision.

Original poster

failedmum · 27/01/2022 19:44

I'm doing more reading and it seems to suggest that if they do the smear and it comes back abnormal they won't actually do anything apart from a colposcopy until after the baby is born, the colposcopy is just where they inspect the cervix to see if there are abnormal cells and then they'd schedule treatment to remove them, so realistically is it worth the risk if they aren't actually able to do anything about it regardless?

I'll phone my midwife and have a chat too. I'm so scared that I'm going to get cancer.. I had the HPV vaccine, which I know doesn't protect against all strains, but it's supposed to atleast against the high risk ones. So I'm a bit gutted I have a high risk one. It was my first smear and I've been with my partner for 5 years, so if I got it from him I've had it atleast that long, if I got it when I was first sexually active I could of had it for over a decade. I don't want to have my two babies who both need me and suddenly have cancer to deal with. Feeling like an idiot for getting pregnant whilst hpv positive

OP posts:

SunnySideUp2020 · 27/01/2022 19:54

I had smear and colposcopy when pregnant. It was perfectly safe. They did it in my 2nd trimester!

Have it.

ChloeHel · 27/01/2022 20:16

@crimblecrumbles can I ask where you had read that there could be a risk of miscarriage? Or why you think a smear could cause miscarriage? Only because like I said I had a speculum exam a week ago and GP said it’s all perfectly safe in pregnancy, now reading this I am wondering why some women would be against it?

HacerSonarSusPasos · 27/01/2022 20:29

The smear only consists of a tiny brush rubbing against the cervix for a second or two. How could that possibly cause miscarriage?

I can't find any scientific source making the miscarriage claim. Internet anecdata is just that, anecdata. Just like the supposed vaccine autism link.
Go with the science and get the smear.

PeeAche · 27/01/2022 20:33

Hi @failedmum I'm sorry about your dilemma, pregnancy is such an anxious time.

I have had many miscarriages and (separately) a few while-pregnant-smears and, for me, there is zero correlation.

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant and had a smear at 12 weeks without any issue.

Before they begin the examination, they take a good old look at the cervix (visual exam, the speculum does not itself sweep the cervix) and they will not go near it with a swab unless they are totally content that everything looks closed, healthy and without any swelling etc. Trust your GP!

My last miscarriage happened 3 days after my first dose of the Covid vaccine. When I was called up for my booster, I was 9 weeks pregnant and couldn't bring myself to do it. I tied myself in knots over it. Round and around I went. But by 12 weeks, I knew that the responsible thing for me and baby and others around me was to have it done. And so I did. At 14 weeks pregnant I caught Covid and wasn't very poorly at all, thanks to having my booster. What a relief.
Sometimes we have to push ourselves to do the logical thing, even when emotions are running high and you feel scared.

In case I'm not being clear, OP, I'm saying "have the smear". You and baby will be safe.

PeeAche · 27/01/2022 20:34

And please don't called yourself an idiot. Being pregnant is wonderful!

FTEngineerM · 27/01/2022 20:37

Feeling like an idiot for getting pregnant whilst hpv positive

No! Stop that!

You are growing a human. You are not an idiot. It’s incredibly stressful without the added stress of what you are going through.

madeleine85 · 28/01/2022 00:07

OP hope you are ok! I had a smear recently and I'm in the first trimester. It caused light spotting due to irritation of the cervix, but it was very light and it stopped a few hours later. I was warned this could happen, but that the cervix was closed so it would just be an irritation of the outside tissues, which some people experience due to sex when pregnant etc. I feel like this is low risk given my experience, honestly my doctor didn't even tell me there was a risk

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