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Women's health

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Original poster

Smear concern

11 replies

willieversleep · 17/02/2023 20:48

I received a letter to say my smear was due at the end of last summer. As I'm a teacher I booked it for the Halloween holidays but it was cancelled twice due to a lack of available chaperone (I didn't request one and I didn't know it was necessary). I tried to book again for the Christmas holidays but was told they couldn't book that far ahead. Received another letter to say I would get no further reminders as I still hadn't the smear. Finally got booked in and seen (with no chaperone!) at the end of January.

I didn't realise they no longer use a lubricant 😬 but when getting the test done the nurse requested that she could get a doctor to look. She performed smear and then went to get doc. Doc said she could see erosion but due to bleeding from smear couldn't see enough. She also said results were taking between 3-6 months so she wanted to re-examine in a week. Unfortunately my period started the next week and so I got seen today.

She has red flagged me to gynaecology as she is concerned that there is a clear edge (more ragged).

I haven't had any hormonal changes that make these erosions more likely to occur. My cycle has always been very regular except when I got my covid vaccines. I had an internal examination then (summer 2021) and there was nothing there then.

Am I jumping to conclusions to think cervical cancer is a possibility?

Sorry that's now quite long 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
willieversleep · 17/02/2023 20:49

Sorry that should say isn't a clear edge

OP posts:
Keepingthingsinteresting · 17/02/2023 21:06

It could be OP, but try not to panic. You’re on the pathway and it will get addressed asap. Hope you’re ok.

KangarooKenny · 17/02/2023 21:32

My erosion was caused by the pill apparently.

Original poster
willieversleep · 17/02/2023 21:37

Sorry yes I should have said I am not on any contraception. Just using condoms as and when.

OP posts:
Original poster
willieversleep · 18/02/2023 17:54

Shameless bump

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 18/02/2023 22:33

Did they book you for colcoscopy? Or just waiting for the smear? It should not take 3-6 months! I had a smear a few weeks ago and the results came after 2.5 weeks saying I needed a colcoscopy (biopsy of cervix) and that appointment was made for 3 days later. Had that and the biopsy took two weeks to get results. This is NHS.

Original poster
willieversleep · 19/02/2023 10:03

SamPoodle123 · 18/02/2023 22:33

Did they book you for colcoscopy? Or just waiting for the smear? It should not take 3-6 months! I had a smear a few weeks ago and the results came after 2.5 weeks saying I needed a colcoscopy (biopsy of cervix) and that appointment was made for 3 days later. Had that and the biopsy took two weeks to get results. This is NHS.

All I was told is I have a referral to gynae. No specifics as to what will happen when I get there. In response to results waiting times this is what I was told by the doctor. I'm in NI and I know we still carry out the old cytology tests rather than the new HPV tests used on the mainland so that may be the reason.

OP posts:
Original poster
willieversleep · 19/02/2023 10:04

SamPoodle123 · 18/02/2023 22:33

Did they book you for colcoscopy? Or just waiting for the smear? It should not take 3-6 months! I had a smear a few weeks ago and the results came after 2.5 weeks saying I needed a colcoscopy (biopsy of cervix) and that appointment was made for 3 days later. Had that and the biopsy took two weeks to get results. This is NHS.

Also my appointment for gynae is booked for the end of March as our waiting lists are very long here

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 19/02/2023 10:29

Oh, I am sorry to hear that. In London it all happens so fast. Could you go private? I used to go private for my smears bc I have high risk hpv and when NHS wanted to do every 3 years, I did private in between.

Original poster
willieversleep · 19/02/2023 19:06

SamPoodle123 · 19/02/2023 10:29

Oh, I am sorry to hear that. In London it all happens so fast. Could you go private? I used to go private for my smears bc I have high risk hpv and when NHS wanted to do every 3 years, I did private in between.

I hadn't really thought about going private for the follow up. I'll have a look and see what my options are. I feel a bit stupid as 6 weeks isn't a long time but I'm definitely not feeling myself as it's stuck in my head.

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 19/02/2023 19:44

It is probably fine to wait 6 weeks. But 3-6 months for a biopsy result seems an extremely long wait. But it could just be I am used to the speed in London.

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