Vaginal Culture with Elective C-Section and Good Results of Pap Smear

Hi ladies! Today my RN told me the next two weeks they would do vaginal culture test with long cotton and wouldn’t use speculum to check is there such a bad bacteria or not, she said it’s important for those who planned to do vaginal delivery and she told me even though I would do repeat C-section I still need to do that. I told her I did Pap smear at May this year during my first trimester checkup and the result came back good, she said “oh you did Pap smear already? But you still need the vaginal culture”. I just don’t understand why it’s necessary since I’m not gonna do vaginal delivery and my Pap smear result is good nothing to concern. Is it really something I need to do? Can i refuse later at the 36 weeks checkup since i don't get the point of the test?

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They're testing for Group B Strep. Which is a bacteria found as part of the normal skin flora for many people. They test for it because it can cause blindness or meningitis in your newborn. They still test for it even if you have a planned C section because of the chance you may deliver early vaginally.

@Elena but with my first I never do the test before delivery and I did it few months after labor. They told me since I hit 34 weeks already so if I feel contractions I can go to the hospital right away so I really don’t get the point to do the test actually, especially with my good Pap smear results only 5 months ago

It is a different test than a pap smear. The cotton swab actually mostly goes on the outside and around the rectum. It's pretty quick. It's pretty standard this is my 4th child I've had it with all of them.

Yep, as @Brianne said, this test is entirely different than a pap smear! This looks just for one type of bacteria found near the vagina and rectum. A pap smear is looking for abnormal cervical cells. A pap smear requires a speculum exam while this bacterial swab just swabs the outside tissue.

Ah I see, thank you for the comprehensive explanation @Brianne @Elena

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