Pap Test Safe During Pregnancy??

[allnaturalmom]

Is anyone else scheduled to have a pap test done while pregnant? While at the doctor’s office on Wednesday for an OB history appt., the nurse told me that I was overdue for one. She went ahead and scheduled it for the beginning of October. Is it really safe to have done during pregnancy? I’m very apprehensive… I didn’t have one when I was prego last time. Is anyone else having one done while pregnant? I have never had an abnormal result and no history of it in my family, so I may cancel. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

[LKath]

I've had one done at the beginning of both of my pregnancies. I'm not sure why, but it was an automatic. I didn't have any problems from it.

[MamaSpruce]

I had one in the first trimester or early in the second last pregnancy. Really no big deal, it is just a quick cotton swab on the cervix after all. My midwife thought it was a really good idea and did it at my regular home appointment.

As a side note, my gynecologist wouldn't see me when I was pregnant because she dropped her OB practice and insurance. I would have preferred the gyno since insurance would have covered the cost of the lab fee, and didn't with the midwife :

[erinwestpoet]

It's the standard practice for first appointments with most OBs and midwives. You can always decline, though.

[kdtmom2be]

Cotton swab?? That's the STD test, the Pap smear is a wooden scraper stick.... at least where I come from. And safe or not, no doctor is doing a pap on me while I'm pregnant. There is no good reason and apparently there is a higher chance of a false positive which will just cause everyone grief and worry. No thank you! It can wait another 9 months.

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by allnaturalmom

Is anyone else scheduled to have a pap test done while pregnant? While at the doctor’s office on Wednesday for an OB history appt., the nurse told me that I was overdue for one. She went ahead and scheduled it for the beginning of October. Is it really safe to have done during pregnancy? I’m very apprehensive… I didn’t have one when I was prego last time. Is anyone else having one done while pregnant? I have never had an abnormal result and no history of it in my family, so I may cancel. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Family history is no matter for this. It's all about HPV. If you haven't had dysplasia before and you are 100% monogamous there wouldn't be any real reason to do it. Cervical cancer is VERY slow to grow anyway.
Some practitioners use a wooden scraper, some use a special little brush. Either way it is generally considered safe, however like a pp said- the false positive rate is higher and stress doesn't help anyone.
If you are feeling dubious about it refuse it now and get one more than 6 weeks post partum.

[allnaturalmom]

Thanks so much for the feedback! I remember it being a small brush-type instrument. The thought of it at the moment makes me cringe. Very early-on I had some cramping and bleeding/spotting for about a day. The OB then sent me off for a set of blood tests and put me on complete pelvic rest. Everything is fine now, so I do not want to have anything scraping down there that doesn't have to be. I will probably postpone. Thanks again for the info.

[janellesmommy]

The only time in my life that I had an abnormal pap was when I was pregnant. So I think I experienced firsthand the higher rate of false positives during pregnancy.

I've also read that a pap can cause harmless bleeding, which can be worrisome to pregnant women.

[clavicula]

i had one around week 16 w/ my first pg, i was bleeding after it on and off. i will refuse it now.
(anyway, i think it is safe, but i guess my cervix was sensitive)

[clavicula]

Originally Posted by Synchro246

If you haven't had dysplasia before and you are 100% monogamous there wouldn't be any real reason to do it.

i totally agree!

[Adamsmama]

I didn't have one with DS1 because I had one the month before becoming pg. I did have to have one with DS2 at 13 weeks because I was due for one. I had no complications from it.

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by clavicula

i had one around week 16 w/ my first pg, i was bleeding after it on and off. i will refuse it now.
(anyway, i think it is safe, but i guess my cervix was sensitive)

The cervix becomes more vascularized during pregnancy- so much so that it even takes on a bluish appearance. It doesn't take much to make a pregnant cervix bleed-- some more than others, of course.

[~member~]

I refused them. There is more false positives when you are pg, anyways.

[stacey0402]

I had one in with both of my previous pregnancies, and I'll have another when I go in for my appointment in a couple weeks. I've never had any problems!

[Willzmama]

I was scheduled to have one Monday. I was hesitant. I've had 2 m/cs and was just spooked. And I wasn't the only one: my doctor didn't want to do it, either! She's had 2 m/cs herself, and she said why didn't I wait until I'm further along and have my OB/GYN do it! I was fine with that!