smear test question

pkacehigh

HI all.

I'm posting this on behalf of a friend of mine as she doesnt want to herself.

She asked me to post this

""I'm 20 and i've had a smear test done twice. [i've no children].
i had irregular bleeding, that's why they did one in the first place.
The first result came back "unsatisfactory" and the second said that my cells are bigger than they should be. I have to go back for another one in October.
Should I be worried?
I don't really understand what the nurse said to me so i'm letting this eat away at me. ""

If anyone can give any advice that would be great..

hunnymonster

you can't get medical advice here but there is lots of information on the irish cervical screening site

http://www.icsp.ie/publications/leaflets.470.html

KTRIC

Tell her to address any concerns to her gynaecologist. No one here can give you medical advice.

John Mason

its probably nothing but "your friend" needs to go back to the nurse and ask her to explain everything in "baby" language and explain her worries.

i had abnormal smears for years but they are fine now

Todoquetengo

I think this can be quite common and is why they keep telling us to have these tests, because catching it early is the main thing.

The same happened to me my friend, she had to go back a few times and got some cells removed, was a minor procedure, in and out in an hour and she gets regular check ups but they've assured her that she will be fine.

Obviously everyone is different and I'm not a medical professional, but your friend is doing the right thing in getting checked out and she shouldn't get too worried about it until she sees the doctor and can ask all these questions herself.

tSubh Dearg

I had my first smear at about 22. It came back as irregular, so I had to have a second one 6 months later to confirm. It also came back as irregular. I was then passed onto the Coombe for a colposcopy - this is where they look at your cervix with a microscope, they will often take a sample for biopsy too.

I find this quite uncomfortable, but then I find normal smears quite uncomfortable too, I know others don't find them as bad as I do.

Anyway, the worst case is that the next ime you go back they do a Lletz proceedure where they cut off the infected cells. This is not painful as they give you local anesthetic, however, it would be advisable to get someone to go with you to drive you home afterwards.

After I had the Lletz done I went in for 3/4 more colposcopys (I totally lost count) which happened every 3 months, 6 months or in the last case a year.

I am totally clear now and getting normal smears, though I have to have smear tests annually for the forseeable future rather than every 3 years.

From what I've heard from friends who are nurses, the cells around your cervix can be a bit unusual and come up as irregular on smears right up until you're 25, then they calm down and become normal. I know that's not they best explanation but I'm no doctor.

All in all you should tell your friend not to worry about it until she has spoken again with another medical professional and if she doesn't understand something she should ask questions as that's what they're there for!

allabouteve

OP, even the worst-case senario isn't too bad if you have your smears regularly, so don't worry too much and get medical advice.

dudara

If smear results are irregular, make sure to follow the doctor's advice and get regular smears to ensure that there is nothing dangerous taking place. Irregular smear results often come back clear in subsequent tests. If they don't, at least something has been detected and can be treated.

Tell your friend not to be afraid to keep asking the nurse/doctor for information. Smear tests are vitally important and she should know what is going on.