Why do a Pap during pregnancy? - Page 2

[day-by-day]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom

Are there steps, like "abnormal but not too bad", "abnormal about to be cancer" etc?

Yes, there are grades of abnormality, from "doesn't look normal but doesn't look like a problem" to "almost cancer" to "cancer", and there may be steps in between. I've had the first type of abnormal cells twice; once during pregnancy and once within 24 hours of having had sex since I was never told that could affect the results. Since I have become aware that sex and pregnancy can affect the results, mine have always been normal.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

They are not routinely done during pregnancy here for the reason of abnormal cells during pregnancy as far as i know.

how often do you have them? here it's every 5 years unless abnormalities are found.
i've only ever had 1 and that was last year i'm not due another till 2014.

[Magali]

I declined the pap test this pg. I did want to be checked for some STD's, so I did urine tests for those. I will absolutely do the pap postpartum, but my only concern for my pregnancy was to make sure I am STD free and I didn't think the pap was necessary for that.

[finnegansmom]

Originally Posted by beckyand3littlemonsters

how often do you have them? here it's every 5 years unless abnormalities are found.
i've only ever had 1 and that was last year i'm not due another till 2014.

I've had them every year since I started going for yearly physicals (mid 20s)
When I had atypical cells, that required biopsies and a procedure, I had to have one every 3 months until they were normal (for 2 in a row I think).
Now I'm back to every year. I have a lot of cancer in my family, including ovarian, so I'm pretty stringent about getting checked out yearly even though I don't like doctors necessarily....it's just something I need to do for my family.

[suddenlyamama]

I was in pelvic rest in first tri with a previous pregnancy*

IMO refusing a pap is a good idea because you are busy forming the important mucous plug and why bother that?
I have asked for my pap to be done pp.

[Ambivalent Dreams]

I did want to be checked for some STD's, so I did urine tests for those.

What STDs can be screened for via urinalysis?

[laerhk]

If a pap in preg means I'll get the stick rather than the mascara brush, sign me up! I HATE those brushes!!!

Still, I know what you mean about getting a test that can wait. *annoyed*

[blizzard_babe]

I had mine done because I was due and have a fairly extensive family history of issues in that area. If that weren't the case, I'd decline until afterwards.

[nia82]

They didn't do paps that often either in Germany, only once a year if you are on birth control pills. My sisters didn't have paps in pregnancy there.
They really wanted to do a pelvic and pap even though I just had that done in December. My MD sister found that rather weird. They mostly want to do the internal to get a sample to check for STDs. Well for me, they'll have to do with the one from 6 months ago, basta. No internal exams during pregnancy for me unless problems arise (I have never had an abnormal pap, absolutely no cervical cancer in the family).

[JFTB1177]

I have no problem getting them as I had a case of severe cervical dysplasia 10 years ago that was a step away from becoming cancer.

In 1999 (when I was 21) I went in for my pap smear and it came back mildly abnormal (I had been having regular paps every year since I was 17 and they were always normal). I was told to come back in for a followup and blew it off. A year went by and I decided to go back... by this time it was a LOT more severe (this is why it is so important to get checked EVERY year, I was amazed at how much more severe it became in just a year). My doc was extremely worried... I went through all the tests, including a cone biopsy. My doc was very grim and I was terrified!!! I hadn't had children yet and was so scared it could be cancer!!! When the doc called me 2 weeks after my biopsy with the result, I was at work and went to the bathroom and just sobbed with relief... my doc was shocked, he told me, but my margins were clear and it was not full-blown cancer but had been very close to turning. If I had waited at all, it could have been tragic. But I was cured!!!

By the way, I don't know anyone in my family who has had cervical cancer so it doesn't need to run in the family for you to get it!

After I got my results, I had paps every 3 months for a year, then every six months, then back to once a year. And you better bet I have never missed one since!!!

I have heard of pregnancy causing abnormal paps... I'm glad to hear about finnegansmom, and how her pap came back normal after the abnormal one during preg. I am terrified of getting an abnormal during preg!

[Magali]

Originally Posted by Ambivalent Dreams

What STDs can be screened for via urinalysis?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Those were the only 2 I was concerned about because I do not want my baby to have antibiotic eye drops, so I wanted to rule them out.

[Mrs.Music]

I just had one this year... But I have IC so I tend to do as little messing with my cervix as possible during pregnancy. It just doesn't seem all that safe. You can get one at your 6 week post partum if you're really concerned. But my MW says at my age, after a normal pap (and without switching partners) I could really go every few years instead of every year.

[mango*mama]

It seems borderline questionable to do STD testing in early pregnancy, given that someone could become infected closer to the due date, if that is a concern for the woman in question.

If there is no treatment for irregular pap results, then I think it's just a matter of doing it for convenience. I personally find them uncomfortable and have had them lead to spotting so I can understand wanting to postpone them.