How long a wait to see a specialist while pregnant?

Pap smears are just done by my GP, not by a GYN.  He told me that they only do them every 3 years here in the UK.

If you have a history of abnormal pap, or have had treatment for cervical cell abnormalities, they will test you annually.

If you have a history of abnormal pap, or have had treatment for cervical cell abnormalities, they will test you annually.

And if you want to go yearly you can pay something like £10-£20 for it.  (If you feel you need too!)  That is if you don't have abnormalities.

I am supposed to go bi annually due to abnormalities.  Will they charge for that?  In the states, my GYN always did my PAP.  Did most of you have that as it seems that some of you didn't have it done by your GYN.

Very interesting topic we're on....

I am supposed to go bi annually due to abnormalities.  Will they charge for that?  In the states, my GYN always did my PAP.  Did most of you have that as it seems that some of you didn't have it done by your GYN.

Very interesting topic we're on....

No that is free, but not sure will they have to test there first or take her word for it?

I am supposed to go bi annually due to abnormalities.  Will they charge for that?  In the states, my GYN always did my PAP.  Did most of you have that as it seems that some of you didn't have it done by your GYN.

Very interesting topic we're on....

Even in the States, I only had it bi-annually the year after my LEEP, to make sure it didn't come back, I guess.  Never heard of anyone having it bi-annually unless they had CINIII, cancer in situ or had to have cone biopsy.  Why?  B/c 9 times out of 10, abnormalities that progress to cervical cancer don't do so very quickly.  

I don't get charged for annual smear tests here.  

And nope, never had a smear test done by a GYN there.

Well, I"m going to make sure I have all of my test results sent over (working on that now) so hopefully that will work.  We shall see....  I'm nervous as I've made the decision not to get a colposcopy as I didn't want that procedure to affect having children.  So, I feel a bit like a ticking time bomb and in a foreign country not knowing the systems.  So, you are all very helpful and hopefully won't mind continuing to answer my questions!!!

I wish I could return the favor, but maybe someday.....

I wish I could return the favor, but maybe someday.....

Personally, I take favour returns by Black & Green

Well, I"m going to make sure I have all of my test results sent over (working on that now) so hopefully that will work.  We shall see....  I'm nervous as I've made the decision not to get a colposcopy as I didn't want that procedure to affect having children.  So, I feel a bit like a ticking time bomb and in a foreign country not knowing the systems.  So, you are all very helpful and hopefully won't mind continuing to answer my questions!!!

I wish I could return the favor, but maybe someday.....

Colposcopy does NOT affect a woman's fertility at all.  All a colposcopy is is a camera, called a colposcope.  The healthcare practitioner stains the cervix with vinegar solution.  Then she views the cervix w/the colposcope.  Abnormalities will be stained a darker colour than normal cells.  If she sees anything fishy, she'll take a small sample of cells, a biopsy.  If she sees abnormalities in or near the endocervical canal, the part that opens up when a woman gives birth vaginally, she will try to sample them.

Then, the cells - if indeed there was need for a biopsy - goes to pathology to see what the lab finds.  

Colposcopy does NOT affect a woman's fertility at all.  All a colposcopy is is a camera, called a colposcope.  The healthcare practitioner stains the cervix with vinegar solution.  Then she views the cervix w/the colposcope.  Abnormalities will be stained a darker colour than normal cells.  If she sees anything fishy, she'll take a small sample of cells, a biopsy.  If she sees abnormalities in or near the endocervical canal, the part that opens up when a woman gives birth vaginally, she will try to sample them.

Then, the cells - if indeed there was need for a biopsy - goes to pathology to see what the lab finds. 

Maybe it's different over there, but they took a sizable chunk (about the size of a pencil eraser) with my colposcopy. They found more bad cells and took another chunk with the LEEP.  I had a baby 2 1/2 years later.  I was quite worried that my cervix had been weakened but all was good.  My cousin had another problem where some scar tissue after the LEEP prevented her cervix from opening properly when she had here baby.  The made some cuts in the scar tissue to allow it to stretch and all was good after that as well. 

As expat said, it has nothing to do with fertility, just something to make sure the medical people know about incase there is a concern.

Maybe it's different over there, but they took a sizable chunk (about the size of a pencil eraser) with my colposcopy. They found more bad cells and took another chunk with the LEEP.  I had a baby 2 1/2 years later.  I was quite worried that my cervix had been weakened but all was good.  My cousin had another problem where some scar tissue after the LEEP prevented her cervix from opening properly when she had here baby.  The made some cuts in the scar tissue to allow it to stretch and all was good after that as well. 

As expat said, it has nothing to do with fertility, just something to make sure the medical people know about incase there is a concern.

No, it's no different.  The colposcope is the camera.  The sample they take is the biopsy, which is done at the same time the healthcare practitioner has a look at the cervix w/the colposcope.  Sometimes, a person can have a colposcopy, and the colposcope doesn't show any abnormalities, so no biopsy/cell sample it taken.

LEEP does not effect fertility either, most of the time.  Multiple LEEPs, however, may, or LEEPs where the doctor has had to go quite deep or near the endocervical canal to remove the abnormal cells.  I had a LEEP and had no infertility or problems w/the cervix. 

Not getting cervical cancer is another bonus.   

What can affect your fertility is a 'cone biopsy'.  This is when the abnormal cells are found in the endocervical canal - the opening in the cervix that allows sperm to pass into the uterus and which dilates during childbirth.  These cells are removed by artificially dilating the cervix and removing the abnormality w/a laser.  Sometimes, this can cause scar tissue which serves as a barrier to sperm entering the uterus and Fallopian tubes.  This is how the actress Brooke Shields became infertile and needed IVF to conceive.  Sometimes, too, a women may need to be monitored for cervical incompetence if she becomes pregnant after a cone biopsy.

A colposcopy is an effective way of getting a better look at suspected cell abnormalities w/o compromising a woman's reproductive health at all.

I got a hold of the enquiry desk today and the nurse that I spoke to said that it might be taking longer, because my GP is trying to refer me to an endocrine specialist who particularly works with pregnant women.  She said that if I haven't heard from them by my first midwife appointment on the 8th of Dec., they will start calling and pushing the specialist for an appt.  She also said that the midwife will have my thyroid function tested at that first appointment if I haven't seen the specialist yet.