This reply is in response to a question posted on the 'contact us' e mail via the PDI site . it answers a query about the question in the online update about not taking a smear if a woman is on HRT and also a question on the taking of smears during pregnancy.

Hello Lynne, it is ok. the question relates to national policy and that policy states several reasons why and when you should refuse to do a smear if a woman asks for one for any of those reasons listed. So in other words, if a woman comes to you and says she wants a smear outside of the programme simply becsuae she has started HRT, this alone is not a reason to take a smear. There are times when women might be advised to ask for a smear simply because of this , or taking the pill etc. The move is to to stop taking smears when it is not necessary
Re pregnancy, again, this guidance has been taken from the national policy list and it is standard practice not to take a sample during pregnancy. But if a woman has had an abnormal result prior to pregnancy and requires a follow up smear during pregnancy it can be done mid trimester according to national colopscopy guidelines.
These were good questions and I think I will add a short explanatory note to the pregnancy answer , so thank you for that
best wishes
Mary