Do you HAVE to get a pap test while pregnant?

[shocker]

I have gotten an appointment to see my ob next month and it says on the letter that I will be given a pap/smear test... I have never had one done before I know they are very useful, I've had two close family members have abnormal results in the last 2 years both of whom are close in age to me, they both had a colposcopy and one had pre cancerous cells removed so I realise that its very serious and needs to be done. At the same time, I am absoloutly terrified of having one done as it sounds painful and I've got a very low pain threshold, also the idea of someone messing around with my cervix during pregnancy seems absoloutly crazy!! I've done a bit of research and there is apparently no link between paps and miscarriage although they do cause bleeding, i dont think i could deal with bleeding i'd be out of my mind with worry! Also apparently pregnancy causes the cells in your cervix to change anyway and its very common to get abnormal results in pregnancy because of this which later turn out to be nothing! Do i have to get this done? am I allowed to refuse? I fully intend to get one done after I have this baby but I really dont feel comfortable having one during pregnancy and im not sure whether or not i have a choice

 

[kobrinfamily]

I have had 3 boys and never had one done until I was pg with my last son and too be honest I was sooooooooooooooooo scared I sat there crying in the Dr office she was acuttly holding me, I was scared the baby was going too get hurt!! But everything went fine, I did have alittle blood after but it was just that day so she told me anything more then that day too call in but he was fine, He is now 13 month's and a fire cracker, It is so worth getting it done for your health and the babys health, just see if you can have someone with you for support

 

[mommyB]

I had one when I was 13 weeks pregnant with my first because I was due for one. This time around I didn't because I had one done in March before we started trying. Everything was fine after I had it done, I was worried too! I think it's a normal feeling.

 

[FitzBaby]

The benefits far outweigh the scared-ness, I promise. I had one with this pregnancy as I was due for one. It's no biggie. It doesn't hurt as much as it's uncomfortable.

 

[lch28]

i think it is a good idea to get one.. i have gotten many and got one at a 5 weeks pregant. i had one tiny spot of blood afterwards. it does not hurt honey

 

[blinkava]

I get one every year and I just got one before I found out I was pregnant, but the benefits outweigh your fears.

 

[shocker]

I know that I should really have one but I'd feel much safer waiting til after the babies born as I know theres no proof of risk to baby but i'm a bit paranoid already and any bleeding it might cause would be really upsetting and scary and I feel like i'd be tempting fate and if anything happened to the baby after I dont know what i'd do, My question is am I allowed to refuse one? I know they can't force me to have one but is it ok to say no til after?

 

[lunar]

I had one on my first appointment. I had no bleeding whatsoever, and I think it was more useful as she was able to feel baby in a way and she even made the comment of, "Well, it definitely feels like you're early on!"

I'm sure you could refuse if you wanted, but I'm sure it's perfectly fine to get one, if not better to be able to detect something, should there be an abnormality. I had mine at 10w and I'm now at 24w (or almost) and I've never had any bleeding whatsoever.

 

[kiwii]

Well, I found myself in your shoes a few months ago. I was 25, I had never been to an obgyn or had a pap smear. It terrified me so I made excuses not to go. Once I found out I was pregnant, I knew it was time to just get it over with. Honestly, it's not that bad and yes You most definitely should get one! All it was was a little bit of pressure, the majority of the discomfort for me was due to me being constipated that day. Otherwise, I don't think I would have minded at all. A few minutes and you're done! Everything came back normal for me and I didn't find any surprises with any of the testing they did for this pregnancy which was such a relief. I think if I didn't get one, I would be paranoid there was something wrong that I was unaware of the whole pregnancy. You will be proud of yourself after you go and again, it's really not that bad. I did spot afterward but it wasn't much and I was re-assured that it was normal and would not hurt baby. If you are really worried, I bet you could refuse but honestly it's not going to harm your little one as he or she is well protected in there and any information they can get from a pap smear is very helpful during your pregnancy. Just remember you're doing it for the well being of you and your little bean.

 

[silver_penny]

Yes, you have every right to refuse the PAP for whatever reason you have. They might give you some grief for refusing, but its your body and your choice. Also be prepared to sign a refusal form. You can do the PAP anytime, suggest that you have one performed at your 6 week postpartum appointment.

 

[Ladybug319]

Sorry to make this shorter than I'd like but my phone is misbehaving haha. Defget one done, I had one done at 3wks totally unrelated to being pregnant and found out I have severe dysplasia which in no way will harm the baby but thank god I found it then because the next step is cervical cancer and I'm only 22. All they do is wait to do the surgery til after my pregnancy but pap smears legit save lives esp if you've never had one before. Hope this helps! You wan to be as healthy as possible! Even if you weren't pregnant I would urge you to get one, I would have never known if I didn't get one!

 

[shocker]

thanks for the posts everyone, i have no problem getting one after, i think they are ver useful and definatly do save lives, its just that for me i dont think I could deal with having one in pregnancy because of the fear of causing miscarriage, completely irrational and unfounded i know but im a worrier! Also because im scared the results will come back telling me something isnt right and if they cant do anything about it until after i have the baby anyway then i dont see the point in spending my pregnancy worried about my own health on top everything else!

 

[patooti]

There is no reason at all to worry for the baby. They are only taking cells from the outside surface of the cervix and really really not interfering with it otherwise in any way. It is not painful. No more than if you brushed inside your cheek with a rough brush. All sexually active women should have one at MINIMUM once every 3 years and once a year is best.

If you are up to date on them then your midwife will likely say after the baby comes. I had one last January so my midwife said she'll do one at the post natal check for me but if you are due for one you should have one since some of the hormones during pregnancy can make it easier for abnormal cells to turn into serious cancers so it is no small matter.

There is NO risk to the baby. You might bleed just a tiny bit but from outside not inside the uterus and although it is unpleasant to have exams done that involve that area there really is no pain so it is not something you should fear.

 

[lunar]

But on the flip side, there could be something going on that could harm your baby and you wouldn't know until you're almost there or even having the baby. Pap smears don't cause miscarriage as they are on the cervix, and although it's attached to the uterus, it's not directing affecting/touching baby. (If I recall my human sexuality teacher correctly!)

 

[wamommy]

My OB does routine paps on all pregnant women around 10 weeks. The reasoning is that some stds can harm the baby during birth, cause premature labor, pregnancy complications, etc. So many stds are easily treated, it's WAY better to find out and protect baby than wait until after, especially if you've never had one. I am in no way assuming you have an std, just better safe than sorry in my opinion.

Whatever you decide, it's ultimately your call. Best of luck

 

[hobbnob]

It is really pretty fast procedure and if you do have any infections they can treat you otherwise you risk passing it along to your baby during birth which can include pneumonia and eye diseases etc which can cause your baby a lot of harm. Your choice but it is not a big deal. I use to be terrified of having a pap done and avoided the doc. But several years ago I was forced to have one and once I had it done it was not such a big deal, I wondered why I was so worried. It is a fast simple procedure as they just take a brush and swab your cervix and really won't harm your baby, but infections can and you can have them and not be aware of it, so better to protect your baby. They can treat you for infections while you are pregnant. Anyway, good luck whatever you decide!

 

[shocker]

thank you everyone for posting, I don't want to harm the baby (not that i think i have any stds!) i wasnt aware that if you do end up having something it can be passed on to baby, so yeah it does sound like it is safer just to do it, but i will take everything you said on board and have a good think about, maybe a chat with my ob and then think i'll be in a better place to make an informed decision, thank you

 

[AP]

My friend had hers during pregnancy (she had abnormal cells in the past)

 

[helena]

Get it done and rule out any condition that could harm you and baby.
It doesn't hurt. Certainly not in comparison to pregnancy aches and pains, not to mention birth etc.
It is over in seconds, really nothing to worry about. Really.

 

[Sweetp79]

If you have had one in the past 3 years (new guidelines) and they were normal you wouldn't have to but if you haven't had one I think your doc will require it. https://www.cnn.com/2012/03/14/health/brawley-cervical-cancer-screenings/index.html
The thing that gets me about this is most doctors won't do anything further until after you have the baby If you do have a abnormal pap so why not wait and Not risk it!

I had one with my first two kids at 6 weeks and 9 weeks with this one I didn't have to cause I've had one in the past 3 yrs (2 yrs ago)
With my first 2 pregnaceys and paps Everything went fine and didn't have any spotting after either.

I was really searching the Internet this time on paps and miscarriages cause I was afraid of them causing one after a couple friends had a miscarriage shortly after Having one (( and I did find a couple sites where the same thing happend to others. Although no medical webisite will tell you there is a link between paps and miscarriage I find it suspicious that it happened right after a pap with 2 of my really close friends and I feel so sad for them!!
Here is a link to the other people who had similar experiences as my friends did. https://m.steadyhealth.com/Miscarriage_after_a_pap_smear_t90852.html