Postpone smear test?

[Wonderbug81]

I had a smear test a few months ago and it came back saying '(GA) - Multiple minor discrepancies(two or more)'.

They said to repeat the test around now. I'm now wondering if I had thrush during the test (as it's been recurring recently).

I'm peri and on HRT (including vaginal) so it can be hard to tell the difference between thrush (I don't tend to get much discharge but the Canestan tablet always sorts it) and vaginal atrophy.

I think I have thrush again so should I postpone the smear for the time being until it's resolved? I think thrush can affect results?

I’d take it if you can get it. Maybe ask the nurse about the thrush thing, but from personal experience smears are v important. Even if you have to go back for a third, at worst it’s inconvenient.

Get the smear re-done. It could be thrush, it could be something else more dangerous and catching it early is key. Bring up the thrush concerns and your history in the appointment as well, and see what they think.

Thank you. Due to my vaginal atrophy I get very anxious about smears. I have checked and thrush can sometimes affect results. It's easy to get another appointment in a week or two.

Thanks yes definitely want to get it redone soon but just seems better to clear up the thrush and wait a week or two.

Oh I understand the anxiety around smear, I’ve had panic attacks getting them done. But the thing is, I’ve been quite far down the line of what happens after a delayed smear (due to changing gp surgery from England to Scotland) which eventually led to nearly bleeding to death in ER after a lletz. I am an extremely rare case, but a smear test, including the anxiety around it, is far less traumatic (or not traumatic) when compared with the other extreme.

I will say this— I had to have a private smear on one occasion (the wait list for nhs smears at my surgery was months long despite it being due, and initiating ivf treatment was dependant on this) and the woman was incredibly gentle! Speculum, taking the sample, gentle words, everything. And this was after my cervix was operated on so by then I was scared of sex never mind smears. If anxiety does ever get in the way of checks, it may be a thing worst saving your pennies for.

So sorry to hear that, hope everything was OK.

I'm lucky as it's very quick getting smear appts where I am (even Sat appts) so I just figured I should wait a week and let the thrush clear up rather than having to do one where they then have to do yet another one.

Good to know about private. I'm usually OK with lots of deep breathing and as long as the nurse is nice!

Ah well a week won’t do much in terms of risk. I jump on anything smear related because of my experience but it’s probably part of my healing (mentally) to prevent it ever happening to anyone else!

and yes I love a nice nurse, though if they’re too nice they make me cry haha, scary mother issues I think 🙈

one nurse told me to concentrate on relaxing my jaw and the rest would follow. Good advice!

Oh that's good advice. Although it's clenching the rest of my body that's the issue.😁