low grade dyskaryosis and HPV

[Neonoen]

Any experience of this? I've just a phone call saying I need to go back in

[PooersMummy]

I had cin2 (which is moderate) about 4 years ago.
Went for colposcopy and tiny pin prick biopsy confirmed. Had lletz cone biopsy and been clear of hpv and all annual smears since been normal. Had a baby and cervix held out fine but was told no swimming or exercise just in case during pregnancy. Try not to worry. not sure what they do for low grade if hpv present. Use protection as you can pass it back and forth with your partner (nearly get over it and then catch it back) and give up smoking if you do - that is one of the things that makes it recur. I believe taking folic acid can also help fight it. Xxxx

[Neonoen]

Thanks for the reply!

I knew I had HPV as I've had genital warts before. But that isn't the same HPV as the one which causes cervical cancer is it? I wonder if you can have a few strains of HPV at the same time?

[Lottapianos]

I had mild dyskaryosis about 8 years ago. I went for a colposcopy - like a smear but they have a look through a powerful lens, got to see it myself on a big screen! Less uncomfortable than a smear. Had another colposcopy 6 months later, then yearly smears for 3 years. All was fine, now back on smears every 3 years. It was all a bit scary but nothing to worry about in the end and I was glad that I was followed up so thoroughly

[PooersMummy]

No the strains are different - the ones which cause genital warts don't cause cell changes.
There are certain high risk strains - my colposcopy told me the strain but maybe smears do now? I wasn't tested for hpv on my abnormal smear as I don't think it was standard practice then.

[Neonoen]

But can you have two strains at the same time? The letter says I have HPV but it doesn't say which one.

[PooersMummy]

I believe that you can, yes, but I'm no expert. I did have an amazing consultant at the Chelsea & Westminster who answered so many questions for me.
A colposcopy will tell you more - have you been referred for one?

[Neonoen]

Yes appt next week

[PooersMummy]

Hope it goes well. The nurses were totally wonderful and really supportive when I was feeling a bit nervous. Fingers crossed you'll be like Lottapianos and not have to have anything done. I did but although I was v shaken by it at the time, I feel very confident that it has now gone and isn't coming back. Couldn't imagine feeling like that at the time.
Xxxx

[PooersMummy]

In case that was misleading - didn't have the cone biopsy there and then. They took a tiny biopsy (like a pin prick) after seeing the cell changes at the colposcopy and after testing they then did the cone biopsy in another appointment. X

[roundaboutthetown]

You can have several types of hpv all at the same time. You have one of the high risk types in addition to a low risk type. This doesn't mean your immune system can't deal with it, with or without help.

[Neonoen]

Thank you round!

If anything it's shaken me up enough to not be so casual about sex. Should I tell previous men I have HPV? It can't be treated so it seems like there is no point?

[roundaboutthetown]

No, they don't advise you to tell previous partners you have high risk hpv. I think this may be because it is such a common infection which most people's immune systems clear without help and there are tests and now vaccinations for women to help protect them from the consequences. It can cause penile cancer in men, but this is much more rare than cervical cancer and easier to spot in time. Unless and until a man gets symptoms, he's not going to be able to do anything with the information you give him, as he won't have a way of telling whether or not he got the high risk virus off you or whether or not his immune system dealt with it - there is no penile scrape like there is a smear and hoc test for women (and what man would want a penile scrape?! ).

[roundaboutthetown]

(Should read hpv test!..).

[chargrilledcharley]

Most of us will have HPV at some point in our lives, body usually just gets rid of it. It's not an STI - it's a common virus that most normal people will carry without knowing. You can carry different strains and like I say, usually your body will clear them naturally. I'm sure there's only two types of high risk strains that pose a risk of going on to cell changes that could cause cancer of the cervix. May be wrong on that though.
Low grade dyskaryosis is quite often not treated straight away and tends to be that they'll just keep a closer eye on you to make sure it resolves itself

[roundaboutthetown]

HPV types 16 or 18 in the cervix (the most common high risk strains in this country) are STIs. You'd be extremely hard pressed to find someone with these infections who had never engaged in any sexual activity. Obviously you can get other strains of wart virus elsewhere on your body that are not transmitted sexually, but different hpv strains specialise in infecting different parts of the body and sex, or very close sexual activity is really required to get access to your cervix... There are other hpv strains that carry a smaller risk of causing cell changes, but types 16 and 18 are the most common high risk ones in the U.K.

[Staceyk91]

Hi... when I had my first smear it was just before my 25th birthday and mine came back the same. They referred me for a colonoscopy and they said it's noting to worry about yet and to make another appointment in a years time.. I'm due to go back in Jan.. they also said it your body could fight it off by then or it can stay low for years x

[CoteDAzur]

"It's not an STI"

Of course it's an STI - a sexually transmitted infection.

You don't get HPV on your cervix any other way than through sex, so...

[CoteDAzur]

"Had a baby and cervix held out fine but was told no swimming or exercise just in case during pregnancy."

I had the same procedure and went on to have two babies. At no point was I told that cervix might not "hold out" and I continued to exercise (in the gym) until the 7th month.

[PooersMummy]

Côte d'Azur - yes, I think your experience is typical. Most people aren't told that and go through pregnancy as though they'd never had the procedure. The specialist consultant who did my op told me to see him when I wanted to get pregnant. I think it's possibly only because I went back to him in London that I was given that advice. The local obstetrician was less fussed about the whole thing.
I had regular cervical length scans throughout pregnancy to check that my cervix was still long and closed. There can be a risk that the cervix opens in later pregnancy. Some people have to have a progesterone pessary or a stitch - but my scans showed that I didn't need to.

[CoteDAzur]

I'm in France where pregnant women are followed by Obstetricians (who you call "consultants" in he UK?) with monthly visits.

[roundaboutthetown]

Normally they are only concerned about cervical incompetence if you had a cone biopsy. Most people have LLETZ in the UK, which removes less tissue than a cone biopsy. You would be extremely unlikely to need a cone biopsy to treat mild dyskariosis.