Cervical Checks

melissah814 · November 2014

Anyone choosing NOT to have any cervical checks?

melissah814 · November 2014

My OB said she would start checking during the last month. I see no reason for them & I know there's no medical reason either.

melissah814 · November 2014

No, I'm not talking about a Pap smear. I didn't get one of those because I'm not 21 yet. My doctor wanted to swab for STD's. I'm not sure of the actual name for that.

ally3242 · November 2014

Cervical checks don't usually start until 36 weeks. I had them the first time around and each week my doctor told me different things every week... one week my hopes were up that I would labor soon, then the next week I wasn't dilated and soft at all. No pulling at these heartstrings this time. I'll probably pass until I'm 39 weeks or if I go past my due date.

knitfastdiewarm · November 2014

Swoon13 said:

melissah814 said:

No, I'm not talking about a Pap smear. I didn't get one of those because I'm not 21 yet. My doctor wanted to swab for STD's. I'm not sure of the actual name for that.

Wait. What? If you're sexually active you should get pap smears. Age doesn't have anything to do with it.

This...I'm really confused. Is this a thing??

melissah814 · November 2014

My OB said I didn't need a Pap smear until I'm 21. I have no idea why.

Sharon&Paul · November 2014

Yes, they changed the recommendation on pap smears until 21 or three years after you become sexually active, whichever comes first. STD can be checked cervically or in the urine. Both are very accurate. They are checking for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

I did not have a pelvic exam yet, because my pap was up to date. I honestly don't know if they checked STDs, but I did give a urine sample. They may of just ran the urine for STDs. They also now test for Strep B in the urine. With my last pregnancy my urine tested positive, so I never did the swab.

taahira · November 2014

If you are sexually active i would recommend a pap smear, whether your OB recommends it or not, i would request one. The cervical swabs aren't harmful to the baby, it really is just checking you don't have any infections that could cause harm to you or the baby. I had one taken at 16 weeks, and they will do another one at 34 weeks. I didn't decline, i want to make sure my baby is healthy and isn't being harmed in anyway. Whatever tests i need to take to insure that i will.

Sharon&Paul · November 2014

The reason for moving the recommendation on paps smears back really had nothing to do with the HPV vaccine. It had to do with the fact that they found 75% of sexually active teenagers had HPV, but the majority converted back to negative in two years. HPV is only a risk for cervical cancer if it is prolonged. They figured by waiting out the three years of sexual activity most would convert back to negative without further testing and the risk of cervical cancer was low in the teenage years..

Ginja85 · November 2014

If you are a sexually active woman between 15-25 you should be getting a Pap smear every year with STD/STI testing, including blood tests for; HIV, Hepatitis B & C, & Syphilis.

While pregnant any number of vaginal health issues can cause preterm labor and/or birth defects. The urine screen for chlamydia can only detect the infection after an average of 21 days in your system.

Doing these test in no way say "i don't trust my partner", "only dirty people get STDs", "I've only been with 1 person, those tests are for sluts". If you are responsible enough to be pregnant, you're responsible enough to get tested.

melissah814 · November 2014

Just to clarify, I DID get tested for STD's (through a blood & urine test) & my OB doctor DID NOT give me a Pap smear because I am not 21. I trust that my doctor knows what she's doing!

Smash1215 · November 2014

melissah814 said:
Just to clarify, I DID get tested for STD's (through a blood & urine test) & my OB doctor DID NOT give me a Pap smear because I am not 21. I trust that my doctor knows what she's doing!

Um, then why the post?

knitfastdiewarm · November 2014

@melissah814 I am not questioning your doctor's decision to not give you a Pap Smear. This was just new information to me that any OB-GYN would wait until 21. I had always heard to have a Pap smear as soon as you are sexually active. Some of us are a little older

melissah814 · November 2014

It's fine! I just felt like people were questioning me as to why I didn't get those things done, when I did.

I posted because I wanted to know if anyone is choosing not to get any cervical checks...

redneckmomma25 · November 2014

Did you have the HPV vaccine? It would make sense I guess if you had the vaccine.

My office starts cervical checks at 36 weeks only by request. I was always too impatient to wait. I never dilated more than a finger tip from 36w to 42 weeks. I had this false hope before them like maybe this week there would be some progress. Nope.

whittier06 · November 2014

I would request a pap from your doctor. Obviously you are sexually active, and most insurances pay for one yearly. It can save your life!

amandamarie2 · November 2014

The recommendation I've been given on pap smears was 21 or 3 years sexually active. I turned 21 this year and was considering getting one done when I got pregnant but wasn't in a rush. Due to my and DH's histories, my MW and I decided to wait until after the baby is born for my pap test due to the greater discomfort and the fact that I'm extremely low risk anyway.

emarsh0415 · November 2014

The state that I live in requires that a std test be done during pregnancy. They do a blood test for HIV and swab for the others. They say the swab is the most accurate vs a urine test. If there are any STDs it can impact how the baby is delivered and treated (medically) after delivery.

bowman958 · November 2014

I will have cervical checks starting at 37 weeks because I like to know what's up. I am the kind of person who wants information if it's available.

Sweetlill1 · November 2014

Sharon&Paul said:
The reason for moving the recommendation on paps smears back really had nothing to do with the HPV vaccine. It had to do with the fact that they found 75% of sexually active teenagers had HPV, but the majority converted back to negative in two years. HPV is only a risk for cervical cancer if it is prolonged. They figured by waiting out the three years of sexual activity most would convert back to negative without further testing and the risk of cervical cancer was low in the teenage years..

This is all true. Too many unneeded procedures etc were being done on young women so the ACOG changed the recommendations several years ago to first pap at 21. It also changed to a pap every 3 years after you have had several normal results and not changing partners, so for us older ladies you may not need one yearly anymore. It is important to know the updated guidelines.

topaz7777 · November 2014

I had to do the swab at my first OB appointment after pregnancy was confirmed. They tested for STDs chlamydia and gonorrhea and the remainder of the STDs were checked via blood test. In Maryland it is state required testing for all pregnant mothers so I couldn't decline. Many states have state required testing for both pregnant mothers and for newborns, so if you're concerned about that kind of thing, it's worth looking up. DD had a state required heel prick immediately after birth and it wasn't something I was allowed to decline.

As for cervical checks, they aren't terrible, just someone sticking a finger where it isn't super comfortable. I will have to do them because I have to have a medically necessary induction and if I start dialating early they will move the induction date earlier so that I don't go into labor uncontrolled.

I would recommend anyone who is flying after 34 weeks to consider a cervical check before traveling. That was the only thing my doctor did at the appointment prior to me traveling then gave me the all clear for the trip.

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