Cervical screening in pregnancy — DRCOG MCQ

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HardGynaecological OncologyCervical screening in pregnancyDRCOG

A 30-year-old at 14 weeks’ gestation receives a routine cervical-screening invitation. Her last screen was normal, she is not under colposcopy follow-up and she has no bleeding or abnormal cervical appearance. What should be arranged?

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Correct answer: C — Defer routine cervical screening and recall her 12 weeks after delivery

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as C · C = shown as D · B = shown as E

A is correct. Routine screening due during pregnancy is deferred until 12 weeks after delivery so the cervical epithelium can recover and misleading results are reduced. B and C perform a non-urgent screening test during pregnancy at invented time points. D substitutes colposcopy despite no abnormal screening result or suspicious cervix. E uses an unestablished self-sampling route and the wrong postpartum interval. This advice applies to routine recall; a previous abnormality requiring colposcopy, postcoital bleeding or a clinically suspicious cervix would need diagnostic assessment and must not be deferred merely because she is pregnant.

Reference: NHS Cervical Screening Programme: Ceasing and deferring invitations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-removing-women-from-routine-invitations/ceasing-and-deferring-women-from-the-nhs-cervical-screening-programme NHS Cervical Screening Programme: Management in pregnancy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-programme-and-colposcopy-management/4-management-of-cases-relating-to-pregnancy-menopause-contraception-and-hysterectomy