BabyUniversity.com › Forums › Ages & Stages › General Health Issues › Ask A Nurse › I heard this... Is there any validity to it?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

I heard this... Is there any validity to it?

post #1 of 13
3/25/03 at 12:54pm
Thread Starter 
OK--Stupid Question Time.... I don't remember where I heard this, but... I heard somewhere that you shouldn't have sex for three days before your yearly checkup, because it could alter your pH level and give inaccurate results on your pap smear. Is this true?
Reply
post #2 of 13
3/25/03 at 1:03pm
I have never heard of this but it might make sense.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Sandra,
Mommy to Michael, my little firefighter and partner to Timothy, my Irish rose

For Michael's preemie pics Click here
Click here to My Parenting Journal

Community Leader and Editor of Baby U's Lifestyle newsletter
Click here to sign up!

Moderator of
Rainy Day Activities Board
Co-Moderator of
Children with Special Needs Board and Relationships
Reply
post #3 of 13
3/25/03 at 1:06pm
I think that i have heard this too but it may just be an ol wives tale. I will be interested to see what the correct answer is.
Reply
post #4 of 13
3/25/03 at 1:13pm
Me too! I would like to know the answer!

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Sandra,
Mommy to Michael, my little firefighter and partner to Timothy, my Irish rose

For Michael's preemie pics Click here
Click here to My Parenting Journal

Community Leader and Editor of Baby U's Lifestyle newsletter
Click here to sign up!

Moderator of
Rainy Day Activities Board
Co-Moderator of
Children with Special Needs Board and Relationships
Reply
post #5 of 13
3/25/03 at 2:36pm
Wow that is a good question
Reply
post #6 of 13
3/25/03 at 6:06pm
24 hours before.... Sperm can interfere with picking up abnormal cells on a pap smear and can be mistaken for.....if I am not mistaken....
Reply
post #7 of 13
3/25/03 at 6:54pm
Ok, not my forum but I will answer the best I can. When I was working in the Army family practice clinic we did ask patients to abstain from Sexual Intercourse, and Douching for 48 hours prior to a Pap smear.

Either one of them can throw off your pap smear results, although not working in a lab, I'm not sure how. It was actually kind of funny because I was in Germany, and we had to specify Internal Douching, because they call a Shower a Douche...
Reply
post #8 of 13
3/25/03 at 7:38pm
Yep, it's VERY true. I actually asked my OB/GYN this one. Not a dumb question at all!

You should not have sexual intercourse or use a douche or any other specialized femine hygiene products within 48 hrs. of your appointment. The reason: These products - as well as intercourse can damage or alter your cervical cells, causing an inaccurate result to your pap. No fun!

I know it kinda stinks having to abstain for 48 hrs., but I'd rather have to do that then put up with a false positive result on my pap.
Reply
post #9 of 13
3/25/03 at 9:48pm
Thanks for the answer! I thought it was true but not actually totally sure.
Reply
post #10 of 13
4/5/03 at 5:03am
Hey I knew that answer
Even the douching part
Reply
post #11 of 13
4/8/03 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 
Well, now we know!
Reply
post #12 of 13
4/8/03 at 4:35pm
Seeyou learn something new every day
Reply
post #13 of 13
4/8/03 at 6:37pm
I have never heard this before. You might call your doctor and ask.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Ask A Nurse
BabyUniversity.com › Forums › Ages & Stages › General Health Issues › Ask A Nurse › I heard this... Is there any validity to it?