Bleeding After Pap Smear

Pap smear test or Papanicolau test, is a test every woman who is sexually active or above the age of 21 should take every 2-3 years. Those who were sexually active at a young age should also get pap smear tests done. This is a test, which is used to detect any changes in the cells of the cervix. Abnormalities in the cervical cells may indicate HPV (human papilloma virus) infections or even cervical cancer. Thus, carrying out this test is highly beneficial, as it helps early detection and early treatment that helps save lives. By this test, women come to know if they have cervical cancer or are at the risk of developing cervical cancer. Thus, a pap smear can help detect cervical cancer in its precancerous stage, thereby making it possible to treat the condition and prevent cervical cancer. Although this test is safe and has no side effects, some people may experience cramping and bleeding after pap smear.

Causes for Bleeding After Pap Smear Test

Bleeding after a pap smear test is commonly experienced by women. If a woman hasn't heard or read about bleeding taking place after a pap smear, she may panic and think something is terribly wrong. However, bleeding after a pap smear test is normal and nothing to be worried about. It takes place because the cervical cells and blood vessels have been disturbed during the test and blood oozes out. This results in spotting. Let's have a better look at what happens during a pap smear.

The obstetrician inserts the speculum (metallic or plastic instrument) into the vaginal opening and uses a spatula to scrape out the cervical cells, required for investigation. This scraping involved in the pap smear procedure may be slightly uncomfortable and is painful for some (although mostly painless). Moreover, sometimes, the scraping happens to agitate the cervix and cause irritation. Slight bleeding or spotting after pap smear may also be observed for a day or two because the cervical cells are quite delicate.

Besides scraping, presence of cervical polyps can also be reasons for bleeding after pap smear testing. Moreover, excess cervical blood is also another reason for bleeding after the pap smear procedure in some women. It so happens that after a pap smear, some women experience a surge of blood gushing to the cervical and other reproductive organs. This excess blood seeps out of the body, thereby resulting in bleeding.

Bleeding After Pap Smear During Pregnancy

The pap smear test is also carried out in pregnant women, as soon as their pregnancy has been confirmed. In fact, many obstetricians consider them a mandatory part of prenatal care and have their patients get it done in the first prenatal visit itself. A pap smear test during pregnancy is safe and poses no threat to the growing fetus. It forms an important part of prenatal care because besides detecting cervical cancer, a pap smear also checks for infections and sexually transmitted diseases that can prove deleterious to the baby. Pap smear results help the doctor detect the presence of any infections and treat it, which will reduce complications during childbirth and protect the fetus. Moreover, a pap smear does not pose any threat to the growing fetus.

Then, what about bleeding after pap smear during pregnancy? Why does bleeding occur? During pregnancy, every part of the reproductive system becomes extra sensitive. Thus, when the doctor scrapes the cells from the cervix for the test, bleeding is bound to happen. Even women who do not experience bleeding during a regular pap smear test are bound to bleed after a pap smear during pregnancy.

An abnormal pap smear indicates that there is some kind of abnormality in the cells of the cervix. The abnormalities can be due to different reasons. It can be due to an HPV infection, cervical cancer or just some problem in the endocervix and endometrium. The doctor will then recommend a treatment that is safe during pregnancy to get rid of the abnormal cells in the cervix. The doctor may even recommend waiting until the baby is born to commence with the treatment procedure, because sometimes, during delivery of the baby, there are chances of the abnormal cells getting washed out.

Bleeding after pap smear while pregnant triggers a lot of panic, because spotting is also one of the signs of miscarriage. Thus, if you are pregnant; have undergone a pap smear test and are experiencing spotting, there is no need to panic. Just keep an eye on the blood you are losing. If it is mild and stops after a while, it is nothing to worry about. If you are still worried call up your doctor and still your fears.

It's not unusual for women to encounter slight bleeding after a pap smear, especially noticeable while wiping the vaginal region. Check the color and amount of bleeding taking place. If spotting is taking place, it is nothing to worry about. Moreover, the color will soon change from red to brown, meaning old cells are being pushed out and bleeding will soon cease. However, if one experiences heavy bleeding after pap smear can be indicative of vaginosis or friable cervix, thus, it is very important to go and get it checked at the hospital or a doctor's clinic.