Cervical smear test 'inadequate' - for the 2nd time

Pollycat

Hi
Just wondering if anyone is in a similar position to me.

I was called for what would have been my last cervical smear (I'm almost 65) last November.
The result came back 'inadequate - insufficient cells' and I was asked to make a further appointment in 3 months.
I did this and got the same result back.

I thought long and hard about making another appointment but did so and had my 3rd smear in 9 months earlier this week.
I had a chat to the nurse and asked at what point someone in the NHS would say 'Hang on. This isn't working for this woman. We need to have a rethink' but didn't really get much help.
I did say that I'm not prepared to keep trotting up to the surgery every 3 months for a smear (it's pretty painful) with no end in sight.

I mentioned it to a friend and she says she's got an appointment for her 2nd test and a friend of hers is waiting for the results for her 3rd (so same as me).
Results are taking 10-12 weeks according to my nurse and up to 15 weeks according to my friend's surgery.

We wondered if the 'inadequate' results are because they are maybe so back-logged they are keeping the cells so long that they are degrading before they can test them.
Hence my asking if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I did find this and if my next results come back the same, I'm going to raise the bit in bold next time I go up.

My smear test result is inadequate - what does this mean?

Your smear has been called inadequate. There may be many reasons for this. It is not the fault of the person who took your smear but for one reason or another the process required to produce a sample for the cytologist who reads your smear has been unable to provide a satisfactory specimen. There can be many reasons why; from a simple problem like difficulty in obtaining enough cells for the laboratory to read or too much blood on the smear or a more complex difficulty in the preparation process.
Sometimes your doctor or practice nurse can advise a treatment that may make taking a further sample more effective, such as vaginal oestrogen cream if the inadequate smear is due to postmenopausal changes in the cervix or antibiotics if infection is present.
Importantly an inadequate smear does not mean your smear was abnormal but that it was unreadable. This is an inconvenience but should not make you worry. Ask your doctor or practice nurse why your smear was inadequate and be aware that you will be called for a repeat cervical cytology sample in three months. Waiting for this time before repeating the test, reduces the risk of a further inadequate sample.
The new smear taking technique called liquid based cytology has made this problem less likely but occasionally women may be referred to colposcopy clinic if the problem persists (see what is colposcopy).

https://www.bsccp.org.uk/women/frequently-asked-questions/
Thanks

carly

This week I had a repeat smear as the one I had done in May was "inadequate ". The nurse said that if this one was also inadequate then the next step in this area ( west mids) is colposcopy at the local hospital. Results round here take around 2 to 3 weeks. I am 62 and she said lack of hormones can sometimes affect smear quality. I guess this shows that it all depends on where you live how the system works...

MovingForwards

Each time I have a smear it has to get redone due to being inadequate (i'm 42), and I get so annoyed as it isnt a very pleasant experience!

I always mention it when i have the appointment but it just seems like they do not collect enough of a sample so have to go through it all again.

It's about time the sample collecting swap was improved to avoid the extra stress.

jenniewb

Can you change where you get it done via the NHS choices website? Not sure if it works for all referals and operations but in the past I've been referred to a different hospital because I knew people that worked at either and who would offer the most reliable service. Maybe as your GP or if there is a contact detail for amending appointments on the letter you get.

Pollycat

Hi
Thanks for the replies.

carly - I'm really hoping that this one comes back OK and clear. I've had one colposcopy and it was so painful, I fainted when I stood up and then was sick on the floor. :eek:

Apparently, it's more painful if you've not had children (I haven't) as your cervix hasn't been dilated.

Very quick with your results (which makes my thoughts about degradation of cells probably incorrect).

Movingforwards - that's pretty poor. I've never had a problem in the past but I have vaginal atrophy so the test itself is really painful.

Jenniewb - I'm not sure. I'll wait for the letter and see what it says. TBH, I thinks it's me more than the nurses. Each test has been done by different people.

I'll update when my results come back.


Thanks again, have a good weekend.

clairec79

Its to do with hormones most likely

They used to do them at a 6 weeks postnatal check but lots came back as inadequate due to the hormone levels still being altered due to the pregnancy - they now don't do them till 12 weeks postnatal and they usually come back correctly

carly

OK, so my repeat smear has also come back as " inadequate number of cells to examine ". I've been told to make an appt for a repeat test in 3 months time ( which contradicts what the nurse doing the test told me would happen ).
If this 3rd test delivers a similar non-result ( which is very likely if it's age and lack of hormones related , I don't know whether I will accept the offer of a colposcopy given that I am low risk, have a history of normal smears and was not due to have any more regular tests anyway at my age.

Pollycat

Carly - sorry to hear that.
I'm still waiting for my results, probably be at least a couple of months.
You sound exactly like me - no history of issues and on the edge of being too old, although I was last called at age 64 and one month.

Pollycat

Hi guys
Had a letter this morning.
My screening sample was tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) and no evidence of the virus was found.

As I'm almost 65, I'll not be invited for screening again.
So that's that. :j

Hoping everybody else gets 'all clear' results.
Have a good weekend.

moneyistooshorttomention

I must admit to being more than a little sceptical as to whether there was any point in having the test as from around a year or so after the last time there was anything "interesting" going on in my life in that respect iyswim;) and so I havent.

I rather thought nuns don't get it - so, if they don't, then why would I if I've got either a non-existent these days sex life/been that way for literally years on the one hand or one man I could be sure was 100% faithful to me on the other hand...

Admits that I've never had/never would have any particularly unpleasant medical procedures anyway (apart from a breast examination with a machine one time/the last time ever - as no-one had warned me that would be painful:mad::mad:).

So I've been okay with normal cervical smears (as they've always come within the bounds of "acceptable") - but if they'd gone into "unacceptable" (eg painful) then I'd have stopped having them anyway.

silvercar

Non-virginal nuns do get it. If you have had anything "interesting" in your life in the last 20 years you should have the smear test.

Many years ago I worked as a statistician analysing results. Think logically, if it was as straight forward as saying anyone not sexually active since their last test was not at risk, then that is what the guidance would say. But that isn't at all true, so the guidance is that anyone who has been sexually active at any time should be tested regularly (in the appropriate age band).