cervical smears are not routinely taken in pregnancy because of difficulty in their interpretation - this is because of pregnancy-related inflammatory or reactive changes which may be revealed on cytology of a cervical smear undertaken in pregnancy or during the postpartum
if a cervical smear is indicated at the six week postnatal visit, and there has been a history of CIN or the GP feels the patient is unlikely to attend for a subsequent smear, then it is appropriate to perform the smear at the postnatal visit - however, if a patient has a history of normal regular smears and the GP believes the patient will attend for a cervical smear at a later date, it may be appropriate to delay the undertaking of the cervical smear until three months postpartum
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