PAP Smear result - Help?

[goddess25]

So I had a pap smear about 6 weeks ago and I had a result from my GP about 2 weeks ago that I am still worrying about.

They quickly told me that the result was fine...but they said the result came back as unsatisfactory. I quizzed the doctors surgery about it for awhile and they said it usually indicates that there was something wrong with the sample ie/ it might be contaminated, I told them I was a cancer nurse so I was worrying about it and they told me the result was fine no evidence of cancer, but I had to repeat the sample in 6 months because it was unsatisfactory.

What does this mean? How can they know it was fine if it was unsatisfactory, they never had an answer for this.

Any ideas?

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

I work in cellular pathology (the lab specialty that handles tissue and cell samples), so this is how I know this

Unsatisfactory (sometimes also called 'inadequate') means that the smear sample was unassessable. This could be because there were too few cells, or there were red or white blood cells obscuring the cervical epithelial cells, or there was an infection present (thrush or heavy BV, for example) that made it difficult to see the cells.

They can't know it's fine if it's unsatisfactory, which is why you have to have it repeated, but it's NOT a repeat because there was something wrong with you, if that makes sense? It doesn't put you at any increased risk of cancer if you have an unsatisfactory smear. It is absolutely nothing to worry about, and you should just treat having to go back as if you forgot to go to your appointment in the first place and had to reschedule (although of course having to go back is not your fault the way it would be if you forgot, but do you see what I mean?...it's 6.30am here, I'm not sure I'm making sense!).

The first 'abnormal' smear grading is 'borderline changes', followed by mild, moderate, and severe dyskaryosis. 'Unsatisfactory' is not a diagnostic term like these others, it's purely a technical classification meaning that the required information could not be obtained from the sample. This happens in a few % of smears, so you were just unlucky.

If you can, try to reschedule for around ov, because then your CM will have less chance of obscuring any cells, and generally the clearest results are obtained around that time. If you can't, it doesn't matter too much, as long as you don't have AF and there aren't any in there, lol.

I hope that's helped set your mind at rest a bit?

 

[NurseSooz]

MrsE is exactly right. If your cervix bleeds easily thected blood cells can occlude thr view of the cervical cells making the smear impossible to read. In older women if it's dry it can be difficult for the brush to pick up cellular material. There are many reasons but sometimes it's just that the brush didn't collect enough matter to justify an accurate reading.

I know what it's like. I know most things to know about smears (practice nurse) but when I got an abnormal result last year you'd think I'd been diagnosed as terminal the way I freaked out! I think it's natural when you've seen the worst case scenario (in sure you have in your job) not to jump to that worst case. You're grand but sadly will need a repeat in 3 months. Big hugs for a fellow worrying nurse

 

[goddess25]

OK thanks ever so much. I feel better now.

My GP did it and it was the best smear ever. My cervix has been described as friable and after every smear I usually bleed and I can feel the scarping. This time I never bled and I didn't feel a thing so yes explains that he never did a good enough sample.

I am planning on TTC June so I will go just before this although common sense tells me to wait until I have the result but not going too

 

[BabyBean14]

Oh gosh! This sort of thing would worry me too! I'm glad you got reassurance here.

 

[goddess25]

I am a hematology/bone marrow transplant nurse and now am a transplant coordinator... so like sooz says about I have seen the worst and I automatically think the worst.

Nice to have some people here who know way more than I do about paps... I have no knowledge of them at all.