Inflammatory smear

I went for a smear late last year, it was a repeat one as the first one came back 'inflammatory' so they couldn't see the cells of the cervix. The doctor said I had a lot of discharge and the cervix bled, that it looked like an infection so I had antibiotics. She said this second test would probably come back inflammatory as well, and it did. I got a letter last week saying to go in for a high vaginal swab and then a repeat smear.

I went to the Dr on campus at my uni, as my regular doctor is quite far away, and to make sure I had no infection, she did all the tests including STD tests but everything came back negative (it was EXTREMELY unlikely I had an STD in the first place as I've never had unprotected sex), she tested for bacterial vaginiosis as well but was negative. She said I had a much higher amount of discharge than most people in my vagina, which made it difficult to see the cervix during the examination, but that since everything came back negative, it was probably just normal for me and nothing to worry about. What can cause a high amount of discharge? Is it just natural for me maybe? And would this make a smear come back as 'inflammatory'?

Reply 1

RetiredAccount89

18

Anonymous

I went for a smear late last year, it was a repeat one as the first one came back 'inflammatory' so they couldn't see the cells of the cervix. The doctor said I had a lot of discharge and the cervix bled, that it looked like an infection so I had antibiotics. She said this second test would probably come back inflammatory as well, and it did. I got a letter last week saying to go in for a high vaginal swab and then a repeat smear.

I went to the Dr on campus at my uni, as my regular doctor is quite far away, and to make sure I had no infection, she did all the tests including STD tests but everything came back negative (it was EXTREMELY unlikely I had an STD in the first place as I've never had unprotected sex), she tested for bacterial vaginiosis as well but was negative. She said I had a much higher amount of discharge than most people in my vagina, which made it difficult to see the cervix during the examination, but that since everything came back negative, it was probably just normal for me and nothing to worry about. What can cause a high amount of discharge? Is it just natural for me maybe? And would this make a smear come back as 'inflammatory'?

you haven't said the time frame between smears here, but it should be relatively long. if its quite short then its possible the antibiotics cleared whatever infection there was there, making the tests negative.

some people do just have lots of discharge, but in those cases we tend to just wipe it away. however if it has inflammatory signs (rather common, but we normally allow for a certain amount and only notify those where it is really quite a lot)) you can't accurately judge the slides for HPV/cervical mutations.
its not anything to get ina tizzy about.
if your docs have prescribed you antibiotics already i'll assume they covered you for chlamydia and gonorrhe./ in which case you may as well just relax and wait for your next smear, and see what that says.

AS for the never had unprotected sex bit...are you sure?
you've never had any 'genital-genital' contact at all?
Its surprising how many people think its all about pregnancy and forget STDs, so 'fool around' for a bit before 'suiting up'.

Reply 2

Profesh

20

An actual doctor; how novel.

Reply 3

Bubblebee

15

Profesh

An actual doctor; how novel.

And I thought he was just a very confused man...

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

AS for the never had unprotected sex bit...are you sure?
you've never had any 'genital-genital' contact at all?
Its surprising how many people think its all about pregnancy and forget STDs, so 'fool around' for a bit before 'suiting up'.

Absolutely sure. At the time of the inflammatory smears I had only had one partner and there was no contact whatsoever before putting the condom on. Just to be clear, I had one smear, it came back inflammatory. I had another one about 4 months later, and that was when the Dr said it looked like I had an infection like chlamydia, she gave me antibiotics just in case and sent the swab away to be tested anyway. I went for STD tests and BV test (NOT a pap smear - they actually refuse to do these in the Republic of Ireland, where I'm at uni, for under 25s) after finishing the antibiotics, to a different doctor this time, who told me I had loads of discharge, but she didn't think it was an infection and that the other doctor was wrong to assume it was an STD, that it probably wasn't. The tests then came back negative for everything. I now have to go for a 'high vaginal swab' at my regular doctor at home to check for infections before I go for my third smear, but I already know I don't have any infections.

Is there a reason I might have so much natural discharge? I've been to the Dr about it in the past before I ever had sex at all, and they always told me there was nothing wrong and some people have more than others. Is having lots of natural discharge enough to cause an inflammatory smear?