CAN A PAP SMEAR CAUSE MISCARRIAGE??????

NIKKILEW

My RE just advised me that now that i will be seeing an OB to ask questions about the first prenatal appointment and if it includes a Pap Smear to maybe request not to have it. When I asked why she said because the little brush is inserted into the cervix and can POSSIBLY cause a miscarriage! I am freaked out because my OB of 16 years said it is their policy to do a pap and vaginal swap at the first prenatal appointment! What do you think????

magel050485

My OB said it could cause spotting but not a miscarriage. 

BurghBornNRaised

I had a pap at 7w and LO's still there   didn't even have spotting after wards...

mags08.06.05

magel050485:

My OB said it could cause spotting but not a miscarriage. 

This. I've had my paps at around 12w with all 3 of my previous pregnancies. Never had a problem with them. 

alyss0nl

Your OB/GYN cannot force you to have a pap smear. I was told there would be spotting, which at the time was very unsettling to me.  My dr said I could wait til the 2nd trimester for a pap smear so it was one less thing to worry about during the 1st trimester.

vanessa11411

I never heard of that. If they would cause miscarriage, then I'm sure they wouldn't do it. I had a pap at my first appointment and I spotted afterwards like she said I would and I was fine.

cflocco

I had a pap at my appointment yesterday.  I think it is standard procedure to have one done early on in pregnancy so I don't think they would do it if it was that risky.  My doc said it could cause spotting but she said she will be extra gentle.  I haven't had any spotting yet so FX that I don't!!

purple4u

There is a different way of collecting cells. They use a swab instead of a brush. It's safe relax

rachaelski

I'm not sure there's a definitive answer; it depends on your caretaker's perspective. My MW offered, but voiced her concern of doing them early in pregnancy, citing it as a unnecessary miscarriage risk. However, she did not give statistics, nor did I ask for more information. I am assuming that most OBGYNs want you to have them, as it is pretty standard practice. 

catch2010

I had a pap smear at my last midwife visit because it's part of the practice's standard procedure.  I was around 8-9 weeks.  I had the tiniest bit of brown blood on my toilet paper the next day (but I also had sex that night).  That was the only bit of bleeding I've experienced so far with this pregnancy. 

I've never heard of it causing a miscarriage, but the way I felt when I saw that brown blood makes it so I check my TP every single stinkin' time I use the bathroom. 

mayabeth

mags08.06.05:

magel050485:

My OB said it could cause spotting but not a miscarriage. 

This. I've had my paps at around 12w with all 3 of my previous pregnancies. Never had a problem with them. 

This. I had a pap at 10w4d and no problem, no spotting. In fact, OB never even mentioned any risks.  

babywing

I've thought about this too. I had a pap when I was 5 weeks last october. I ended up having a m/c. Not sure if they were related. I had one because it was a new OB. I kinda wish I hadn't. But again, not sure if it was just coincidence or not.

NIKKILEW

ok all that makes me feel better! i don't think there is enough research to prove what my RE said, but she was just saying make sure i voice my concern with RE since i did have issues getting preggers in the first place and still on progesterone shots. well i will be 11weeks 3 days next wed. when i see the OB and vagina brush!

jjabs18

I had one two weeks ago at my second OB appointment. I had some spotting afterwards, but everything was perfectly fine. I would find out when your OB plans on doing the pap, my OB wouldn't do it before 9 weeks. She also wouldn't see me prior to 8 weeks either, but at 8 weeks we were still under the care of our RE.

MrsG.060708

I've never heard of that either. It's such a common practice, I don't think they'd do it if it increased the miscarriage rate.

CheriCO

Have you had a recent pap smear?  If so, I'd see if you can skip the routine one.  I just had one in December and at that time they told me since I had a run of normals, I don't have to have another for 2 yrs instead of yearly.  They didn't do any sort of exam at my first appt at 6 wks.  Now, I'm transferring to a birth center, so I don't know if they'll want to do one, but I'm having all my records sent over, so there shouldn't be a need.  I guess I'd want to know what the purpose was if you've had a normal one within the past several months.

NIKKILEW

I had one last year and my OB said it their "Policy" to have a pap on the first prenatal appointment. Soooooooooooooooooo don't know what to do.

Pdxmom73

Last week at my first appt my doc did a partial one if that makes any sense. I had had one that was acceptable to them in the last year but she said they do like to test for STD's no matter what. So she just used a swab instead of a brush and told me I could spot. I did see a pinkish tint with one wipe that night but it was gone as soon as it happened. 

tonychelle

i had one at like 5 weeks and no spotting or anything. i'm sure they wouldn't do them if there was a widespread problem...

smilelari

A pap will not cause a miscarriage, but are you due for a pap?  If you aren't due, I'd skip it anyways.  Paps are standard practice in my midwife's office too, but she didn't do one because I had one in October

Abb21

I would think that if you don't want to have one then they can't do anything about that. But on the other side, if she said they do it for all their OB patients, then the change of miscarriage must not be high at all. If it was, then they wouldn't. But if you are uncomfortable, then definitely don't do it.

bellapup

I had one with DD and spotted a little.  However, who knows if the spotting was due to the pap or the wonderful vaginal ultrasound.  Everything turned out fine.  I'm sure on Monday I will get one with this baby too. 

Mayzer

I had a pap at 6weeks 6 days.  I had some light spotting but other than that everything is fine.