Smear after hysterectomy, now worried.

[Hystersmeartest]

10 years ago I had a hysterectomy due to persistent Cin3. I kept my ovaries but womb and cervix was removed. At the time I asked if I needed to have vault smears but was told no. I’m in Scotland and on the news tonight there was a report of a review in Scotland of smears for people who have had hysterectomies and not been getting them. Does anyone know anything about this?

Bumping to see if anyone else is affected by this or has any further information

I can't see why anyone would have smear test if they have no cervix.

Do you? What would they be testing?

I had a total radical hysterectomy 22 years ago. At the time, the hospital said to arrange to have vault smears.
All my GP since, have looked totally blank when I’ve asked. So I’ve never had one.

Following with a vested interest.

I had my cervix removed when I had my hysterectomy and was told I didn't have to have smears. Speak to your GP surgery, they may just need to tick the appropriate box to say no longer need smears

The problem will be that some people had the type of hysterectomy where the cervix was left in, but they weren't called for smears. If you had yours for CIN, I'm sure they would have removed your cervix as that was the whole point, but worth double checking with your surgery.

Also following with interest!!
I had a hysterectomy 7 years ago and my cervix was removed.
I was told I'd no longer need smear tests - which makes total sense!!!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57596250.amp

This is the bbc article about it. It says that if you have had your cervix removed you don’t need a smear. But some women keep all or part of their cervix after their womb is removed. Some of these women were told they didn’t need smear tests and then went on to develop cancer. If you no longer have a cervix or part of a cervix then you don’t need a smear but if you are not sure best to check with your GP.

Yes the written report says no smears needed if cervix removed but the verbal report was slightly different and in specific circumstances vault smears should be carried out. I’ve looked up sign guidelines and it says vault smears should happen if someone has had CIN3 and I think CIN2. Vault smears aren’t really smears as there’s no cervix but they take cells from the top of the vagina to check that no abnormal cells are present. My hysterectomy histology did show that there were abnormal cells present in my womb as well as cervix.

Ah yes I see what you mean. It seems to suggest some women need vault smears post op. Looks like those would be done at the hospital as follow up treatment rather than through your GP. Might be worth trying to find out more information from your gynaecologist (might need to go through your GP).

I would definitely ask your GP to refer you back to gynaecology for a vault smear, there is a risk that cells in the vaginal wall could have become cancerous even though the cervix has been removed.

That’s my concern @MrsPnut, and i had my op under my private health insurance so I’m not sure what my nhs records say

I’d just ask for an NHS referral anyway, presumably the consultant you saw privately also has an NHS clinic?

Definitely see your GP and get a referral to a gynaecologist.
I've had CIN3 in the past, and I asked for a hysterectomy but the consultant said it was unnecessary - like cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer was the analogy he used.
Good luck OP.

That's interesting @Idyllic. My CIN3 persisted even after several rounds of treatment and I was virtually forced into the hysterectomy (didn’t want one).

Yes @MrsPnut I saw him initially on the NHS. Will contact GP for an appointment later

Couldn’t get an appointment until the 29th.

Many thanks for all your comments