Overdue smear | Mumsnet

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 2023-09-11T21:01:28+00:00

My smear is very overdue; I had a baby and every time I've had one booked since my period has started (current one booked 6 weeks in advance with irregular periods). Can I get a smear when I've got my period?

MariePaperRoses · 11/09/2023 22:05

Why would you want to inflict that on someone?

Original poster

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 11/09/2023 22:10

MariePaperRoses · 11/09/2023 22:05

Why would you want to inflict that on someone?

Clearly I don't. Hence its at least 2 years overdue! I was just asking just in case, periods are so irregular I can't predict when they'll appear when I have to wait 6 weeks for an appointment !

OP posts:

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 11/09/2023 22:10

No, but I would suggest flagging this up with your surgery and seeing if there’s a way to book a last minute slot for it when you know you’re a bit in the clear.
Or asking if there’s another place locally you can go to get one done.

Also!!! Don’t worry about it. Smears are just screening for precancerous changes - they are not a diagnostic tool for cancer - (assuming you are U.K.) nowadays they only check for HPV infection and only check the sample if it’s positive. (There may be other ways to do this HPV swab depending where you live).

For about 10 yrs I went private for them and walked off the street (cost about £100 back then) because I never knew if I’d feel up to going and hated the booking and waiting for the appointment (and the results used to come within days rather than weeks).

Original poster

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 11/09/2023 22:12

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 11/09/2023 22:10

No, but I would suggest flagging this up with your surgery and seeing if there’s a way to book a last minute slot for it when you know you’re a bit in the clear.
Or asking if there’s another place locally you can go to get one done.

Also!!! Don’t worry about it. Smears are just screening for precancerous changes - they are not a diagnostic tool for cancer - (assuming you are U.K.) nowadays they only check for HPV infection and only check the sample if it’s positive. (There may be other ways to do this HPV swab depending where you live).

For about 10 yrs I went private for them and walked off the street (cost about £100 back then) because I never knew if I’d feel up to going and hated the booking and waiting for the appointment (and the results used to come within days rather than weeks).

I had contemplated going private for one but didn't know where to start looking.

OP posts:

WetBandits · 11/09/2023 22:13

MariePaperRoses · 11/09/2023 22:05

Why would you want to inflict that on someone?

Grow up!

OP the only reason we can’t do a smear when you’re on your period is because the red blood cells are too large for the machines they use in the lab to separate from the actual cells we sample, so your results may not be accurate.

Original poster

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 11/09/2023 22:27

WetBandits · 11/09/2023 22:13

Grow up!

OP the only reason we can’t do a smear when you’re on your period is because the red blood cells are too large for the machines they use in the lab to separate from the actual cells we sample, so your results may not be accurate.

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That is really useful thank you. I've always had to cancel them because of it, but getting desperate for one now. Will try what PP said and try and explain the situation. I've just been off work for 2 weeks and asked for an appointment for ANY time over those 2 weeks and no luck at all. I'm booked in next month, but just praying timings work OK.

OP posts:

solice84 · 12/09/2023 06:35

If not then you can buy a home hpv test .