If you were having a smear test tomorrow...

[warblingwater]

Would you avoid sex tonight? To be polite?

I feel like it's obvious I should, right?! But this isn't ever mentioned (is it?)

Why?

Yes I would avoid.

Don't you shower in the morning?

Why is it obvious? It's not going to affect your smear in any way surely.

I certainly do. But I'm thinking more along the lines of residual semen inside ??

Hi, I’ve had lots of smear tests and I’m sure I read somewhere that unprotected sex the day before is not ideal. I think semen can get in the way of the cervical cells. It’s not such a big deal that you shouldn’t do it but it’s best not to. Kind of the same principle with heavy period days; you can still have a smear but results are easier to get if you’re not heavily bleeding.

I’m not a medic though.

As someone who previously used to take smears regularly until about 10 years ago.... yes that would be a nice thing to do. But it won't affect the sample at all if one thing does lead to another...

Yea that was my thinking @Feliciacat

I think you are overthinking if this was essential, they would tell you to abstain, like a fasting blood test e.g.

i had one last week. Yes, I would definitely avoid unprotected sex the day before.

Yes I absolutely would. If I’d use a condom.

…Or I’d use a condom

I wouldn't have sex the night before
My smear is tomorrow but I don't have sex on a school night anyway

A smear doesn’t check for cell changes anymore, only checks for the presence of hpv. But if they detect hpv do they use the same sample to check for cell changes?

if so then maybe some sperm might mess up the sample. But if only checking for hpv then I think it won’t matter?

Yes I always do. There's always leftover up there that makes it's way down. I've never read to avoid intercourse before a smear but I have for a colposcopy and it's a similar procedure.

It is recommended that you do not have sex in the 24 hours before the test, as sperm, lubricant, and the chemicals used in barrier or spermicidal contraception, can affect the test results.

I would definitely avoid.

I mean whoever said 'won't you shower' unless you douche up there then there's gonna be seen up near your cervix.

Nurses have enough to deal with performing smears without having to see that. I feel its just polite to be as clean as can be.

Well I've never seen that on any documentation or ever been advised verbally to abstain from sex.

I love Mumsnet
Am 58 and have genuinely never given this a thought
Will do going forward
Am sure in the past I probably had sex the night before a smear (and possibly the morning of!)
Much less risk now 😢🤣

Yes it's mentioned. We are told 72 hours at least.

Sex on a Tuesday?! A school night?! Madness

@legalseagull Sex on a Tuesday?! A school night?! Madness

I was thinking the very same!!

Yes. It can confuse the results. Plus is gross for the nurse.