Hi all,

I am currently awaiting a smear which has been delayed due to COVID but in all honesty it's been approx 6 years since my last one

I am 38 years old and since having my daughter in March 2017, I have not been on any contraception(husband has now had a vasectomy) and my periods are a pretty consistent 23-25 day cycle, menstruating approx 3-4 days med- heavy flow. At the beginning of the lockdown last year my period was approx a week late which I put down to stress, following that it resumed into its usual pattern.

Last night I began bleeding 8 days earlier than my app suggests I should be. I'm guessing it's my period based on the flow, but I'm rarely early other than by perhaps a day or two at the most. I did have sex with my husband the day previous but it was a full 24 hours after that, that the bleeding started. I have been stressed but not much more than I have been for the duration of the pandemic.

I will be phoning my doctor's on Monday to see if I can have my smear asap and asking for their advice - but wondered if any of the ladies who have been diagnosed had similar as I'm worried it's something sinister and looking at the symptoms, I'm unsure if bleeding between periods symptoms were generally spotting or have others had earlier period- like bleeds as a symptom. I haven't had any discharge or pelvic pain. I do have lower back pain on one side but have had this a long while and has been diagnosed as sciatica.

Thanks in advance.

Gemma