Is bleeding normal during cervical cancer screening?

A small amount of bleeding after a cervical cancer screening test is normal. Cervical cancer screening mainly includes cervical cytology and human papillomavirus testing. The sampling process may stimulate the cervical mucosa and cause slight bleeding, which usually stops on its own within 1-2 days. If the amount of bleeding exceeds menstrual flow or lasts for more than 3 days, you need to be alert to the possibility of cervical lesions.

The surface of the cervix is ​​covered with a rich capillary network. When using a sampling brush or scraper to collect cells, the physical friction between the instrument and the cervical mucosa may cause tiny blood vessels to rupture. Bleeding caused by this kind of mechanical injury usually appears in the form of drops or blood streaks, and is mostly within the range that can be absorbed by using sanitary pads. Bleeding after screening is often more obvious after activity and lessened after resting, which is essentially different from the regular gush of menstrual bleeding.

In rare cases, abnormal bleeding may indicate the presence of cervical disease. When the cervical columnar epithelium migrates outward, the exposed columnar epithelium becomes more fragile and prone to bleeding. Benign lesions such as cervical polyps and cervical erosion can also increase the probability of contact bleeding. If there has been persistent high-risk human papillomavirus infection in the past, bleeding may reflect precancerous lesions such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. When bleeding is accompanied by obvious odor, tissue fragments, or lower abdominal pain, infectious diseases such as acute cervicitis need to be considered.

After screening, the perineum should be kept clean and dry, use breathable cotton underwear, and avoid sexual intercourse, bathing, and vaginal douching within 24 hours. You can appropriately increase the intake of spinach, broccoli and other dark vegetables rich in vitamin K to help restore the coagulation function. If bleeding continues or anemia symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue occur, the screening report should be brought to the gynecological clinic for review in a timely manner. If necessary, colposcopy or cervical biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. It is recommended that women over the age of 30 undergo standardized screening every 3 years, and this can be shortened to 1-2 years for high-risk groups.