Smears

[Littleone88]

Has anyone with endometriosis ever had bleeding during a smear test??

Had my smear last Thursday and when ii see the brush was covered in red blood.

Freaked me out

Anyone else had this and the smear been ok??

Many thanks

Leigh xx

[MrsWalshy]

Yes, when I first started having smear tests I would regularly have to return to be re-tested due to the test being contaminated with blood. It was only traces though, not so much that it was visible to the naked eye.

[luthien]

I had a smear with a little blood on it, my GP whom did it said that my cervix looked a bit red anyway, but to wait for the results. It came back as undetermined which means there's not enough of the right cells to test. My GP did a proper visual examination with more swab tests to check for various infections; she thought it could be cervical ectropion (cervical erosion). This is where the sensitive cells further up the cervix randomly appear at the base, which makes it look redder and can spot on contact, it isn't horrible, not cancerous and can be treated under local anaesthetic to cut out the weird cells or chemically burn them - I opted for the latter but I think only private does that, it's a quicker recovery time. Either way it's a 40 mins appointment and that's it.

It could be the above or nothing. Did you have it done by a nurse, or GP? If it's a nurse they may see it all the time and they can't tell you what's causing it as you'll go to them just to have the smear test, GPs may make a note and then wait for the results. Perhaps book an appointment with your GP to discuss that blood concerning you and the results even if all okay. Do you get spotting at any other times, any sharp short pain or spotting from your cervix on contact (if you use toys or have sex)?

I don't want to worry you, just being honest. If it's cervical ectropion it doesn't have any lasting effects, but can get worse, make your symptoms worse - more spotting and pain. There isn't any proper causes; hormones are thought to change the layout and cells.

Generally a good healthy cervix should not spot or bleed on contact.

Hope that helps x

[Littleone88 in reply to luthien]

I have had tht before and they burnt it off during a colposcopy, so ii wonder if it’s come back??

Ii don’t bleed using toys or anything ,

But with rough sex ii can bleed.

Don’t have any spotting any other time.

Will wait for my results to come back and go from there. Thank u

[luthien in reply to Littleone88]

It can come back, it's one of those odd random things.

Yeah wait and see, if you don't have any worrying symptoms you can always just leave it but having it treated early can be better as there's less of an area to treat.

xx

[Littleone88 in reply to luthien]

Yes ii had completely forgot about that until u have mentioned it then ii clicked and remembered the nurse in colposcopy saying she burned it off but it can return. So thank you that’s eased my mind plenty. Xx

[EHS2000 in reply to Littleone88]

I had bleeding and I had a major ectropion which they froze off as part of my last lap. They reckoned that was what caused the bleeding during the smear tests, not anything else. Just keep an eye on it ☺️

[Littleone88 in reply to EHS2000]

Thank you for your response, just feel ii have so much going on downstairs right now it’s a major headache. Only found out two months ago ii have endometriosis and now smear tests, I’m due for Prolaspe repair in 2 weeks so praying my smear is ok else I’m gonna have to cancel surgery. Not good lol x

[EHS2000 in reply to Littleone88]

I really feel your pain and hope they can sort everything out and make sure you’re on the road to feeling better ASAP x

[Giraffe92]

I had some bleeding last time - it was after my first period after my laparoscopy. The nurse said I shouldn't have gone if I knew I was still on my period however I hadn't knowingly bled for 5 days so assumed I'd finished. Also I don't know if it is relevant but my smears have always been fine but this one after my laparoscopy was agonising

[Theorah89]

Has anyone's smear tests been very painful? I'm not sure if my experience is related to endo or the fact that I've never had sex. But it really was the most painful thing I've ever experienced, I started crying just from the sheer pain! I'm guessing this is not to do with endo though, if no one has mentioned it here?

[Littleone88 in reply to Theorah89]

Yeah mine mine felt really uncomfortable 😣 ii had quite a lot of inside pain after for a few hours also. And belly cramps. Ii did some research and read that endometriosis can cause smears to be painful. This was on that ‘ Jo’s cancer trust’ website. So ii wouldn’t worry, I’m trying not to. Good luck for ur results xx

[Theorah89 in reply to Littleone88]

Thank you! I'm glad to hear your results came back normal!

[Littleone88 in reply to Theorah89]

Thank you I’m glad too been a painful week of worry lol. But yes it was painful ii bled and ii hAd cramps. And result was normal so try not to panic and worry fingers crossed for you xx

[Emsky]

I don't have endo, but I always bleed when getting a smear and it's always super painful for me too

[Littleone88 in reply to Emsky]

There not very nice are they my results come back Normal so huge relief. Thank you everyone for responding xx

[Emsky in reply to Littleone88]

That's good! I'm still waiting on my results from this one x

[Littleone88 in reply to Emsky]

Fingers crossed for you, xx

[Hinesy]

I haven’t had a smear yet, in my whole life, where I haven’t bled! The brush is covered and I bleed for a few days after! I get recalled every time too as there’s too much blood to get a result. I’ve even had to go for a colposcopy as the smear couldn’t get results 🙄 I have a delicate cervix apparently!

[Littleone88 in reply to Hinesy]

It’s so guttering isn’t it, when i see blood my heart sinks and i instantly worry till i see my results. Seems it happens to a lot of us. Xx

[StefaniaJW]

1) Shouldn't the person who performed it have told you more about it? If my OB/GYN emerged with a brush covered in blood, she would probably re-do it

2) Never had blood from a smear test. Bleeding from the cervix is not normal unless you have just given birth or have cancer or have something else. Please speak to a healthcare professional ASAP to rule out any issues (yes, maybe many other people commented they have bled too, but you might have other issues, so please always ask everything to the healthcare provider).

[sakura22]

I had blood on the speculum last time I had a smear, and was told that my period must have started and I should have come at a different time. I had actually booked the smear 10 days after my period had finished, and the bleeding and discomfort resolved itself within a few hours following the smear test so it was definitely the smear test itself that triggered it, not an early period!!. The smear test was very painful -the nurse obviously felt that I was exaggerating the pain, but I wasn't. I do feel nurses need more education about endo, as I found the nurse unsympathetic and thought I was a bit neurotic. I guess if nurses don't have endo they just don't understand, but someone in authority needs to tell them.

Someone told me that taking an ipbuprofen an hour before a smear can help with the pain - has anyone tried this. I am going to give it a go next time.

[Littleone88 in reply to sakura22]

Yes i have now done a lot of reading and it seems a lot of girls with endo experience bleeding and painful smears.

Nurses and drs definitely need educating on it. It’s so disheartening seeing blood and being in pain after. But everything come back normal. Smear was fine.

Ii will try some Ibuprofen next time. Ii do sometimes have to take that before sex due to pain after. Hope your well x