Question for medical bods! (bit TMI)

Having only been for one smear I haven't got much experience but I did think that you shouldn't go during your period. Sounds like you need to go to the docs anyway though so you could use the appointment to talk to them about whats going on

I was under the impression that they like to do them when you aren't menstruating because the blood can interfere with the swob so could give an abnormal reading.

That's what I'd heard. I made the appointment because I'd already spoken with the doctor and she'd advised me to. Not sure what to do now really!

I'd say go to the appointment as arranged, when you get there then discuss with the nurse that you having the spotting, and say as it's pretty much all month there wouldn't really be a time when you weren't on to do the smear. See what they say and they may do an examination anyway to see. I had a lot of blood in a smear once (not on period, just because of the 'trauma' to my bits!) and it came back fine, they were able to do the tests needed.

Are you on the mini pill? I bled all month with it?

Definately go, even if it's jus to talk to them about it.

Thanks, I think I will. Doc seems pretty sure that it is the pill which is causing it, rather than any other nasties. I had one abnormal one before but they did it again and it was fine.

I know what you mean about the 'trauma'...the last one I had done was horrid! Blood everywhere. Still better to get it done than risk the alternative, I suppose- however unpleasant!

Defo go and see your doc over this, better to be on the safe side even if to put your mind at rest.

Is it the doc you are seeing or the nurse? Not sure if seeing the nurse she will be able to help with the medical side of it, if its more than just a standard smear.

Good luck, I hate these things, I'm a few years behind on mine

I rearranged one for the following week because I was spotting. However in your case I would go, explain there isn't a time when you aren't spotting and hopefully they will just do one regardless and hope for the best.

I have had so much rummaging, scans and procedures down there that being tickled by (what looked like) a rubber pastry brush is nothing. No blood or anything. Maybe I have a good nurse!

Good luck.

Leelee - Get your butt on the phone to your doctors NOW!

I cancel whenever this happens. I had to cancel my most recent one three times! The pills I have tried have all caused crazy bleeding like you, but it seems to have settled down a bit now and they managed to get it done. Results came back normal this time thankfully.

I'd go, explain the problem and that the doctor recommended it, and get it done. There's a chance if there's too much blood it'll make the results difficult/impossible to read, but it could be alright. It's definitely worth getting properly investigated though, so make sure you follow it up with your GP once the smear is all done.

I have to have annual smears due to problems in the past. I'm almost sure that they won't test while you are bleeding. It's not just blood that can interfere with a result but also hormones. There is only a couple of days each month that are perfect for smears. Tests done on other days can cause results to wrongly come back as abnormal or insufficient.

I would still go to the appointment and discuss your situation.

Many Family Planning Centres run drop in smear test sessions, it may be that you have to have your test done there if you only have the odd day clear.

❤️ I know it's really worrying.

I went. Got done. It was fine! Results in a couple of weeks; hopefully I won't have to go back.

The (lovely) nurse gave me a very interesting explanation about how they used to literally 'smear' the cells on slides so they could look for abnormal cells- hence 'smear test' I suppose!- but now it's all done by using one of those centrifuge things you see in labs and this gets rid of most of the 'other' material so all that's left is the stuff they're interested in. So having a bit of bleeding isn't so much of an issue these days.

Probing and learning in the same day.

I had to laugh though; she accidentally opened the curtain whilst I was putting my tights back on and apologised profusely. I just laughed and said 'You've just looked up my vag...I don't have a problem with you seeing me in my tights!'

Aren't we British funny?

Hahahahaha!! Classic!!!!

Glad it went well for you though!