<s>[INST] I had a pap test today and my doctor said that he noticed blood and mucus , however, I am in the middle of my cycle, therefore am not due to start my period for a week and a half. Is this anything to worry about, as I have read that cervical cancer causes blood after sex, pap smears and douching. your advice is appreciated [/INST] Hello and welcome to Chat Doctor Its true that symptoms of cervical cancer are bleeding after having sex. However, blood and mucus on Pap test have different meaning. Actually, what a pathologist looks in a pap test is the change in the morphology (size, shape and various characteristics of cells lining the cervix) of the cervical cells. On the basis of these features the cells are labelled as normal, dysplasia, pre-cancerous or cancerous. Presence of only blood and mucus is an unsatisfactory smear/ test. You will have to get the test repeated. Blood in the test is due to procedure and mucus is normally present in the cervical canal. The material which was required has not been sampled. Thanks and take care Chat Doctor.  </s>