Smear tests pointless now?

[hedgehogger1]

On my last smear test I was told they no longer look at the cells if the sample tests negative for HPV. As I've tested negative for HPV and have no way to catch it does that mean further smears are pointless and I don't need to go any more?

Seriously? Of course you still need to go.

If you don't have HPV and you're not sexually active, then the risk is very low for cervical cancer. It's up to you whether you go or not.

I agree pointless. I don’t understand the reason I g behind this other than cost cutting. There’s still a percentage of risk of cervical cancer without HPV being a factor.

I heard about this research 4 years ago. It might encourage many women to have a test who wouldn’t normally because you can do a HPV test at home on yourself.

I wouldn't bother having any more tests in those circumstances. There is a miniscule chance you will still get cervical cancer but there is equally a chance that even if you did it wouldn't be picked up

Well they literally told me they will only look for HPV. If I don't have it they don't look at the cells. I don't have it. I won't catch it. So I assume it's unnecessary unless they go back to looking at the cells?

HPV can lie dormant and activate years after exposure so although you don’t have it now that may change in the future whether you are sexually active or not. I’d def stick to the three yearly screening just in case.

Thanks @Foreverbaffled :)

As previous poster stated you can test negative at one smear but then positive at the next. I would keep going.

I think this is very dangerous territory. I know someone who had hpv negative cervical cancer. It's rare, but it can happen. Surely the only way to know for sure is to test the cells for cancer and hpv

As long as they are not testing the cells if HPV negative then I will not be attending smears and instead will pay to take a HPV test in the privacy of my own bathroom. If I test positive (unlikely as have very limited sexual history, have never tested positive and now married) then I will go for further testing.

HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, which is essentially an STI. So providing you stay in a stable relationship the risk is minimal.

I had abnormal cells and LLETZ procedure. Certainly since that time I have never tested positive for HPV. I am not sure if I ever tested positive.

So if I have been with the same person for 10 years and never had hpv cells then there is less risk? I stress out so much about missing them and find them seriously distressing tbh.

Is this nationwide? I had mine around a month ago and when the nurse did the bit at the beginning where they explain the test and what it's for she said they look at cells and HPV. She checked the results of my last test from a few years ago to confirm that the cells were normal and I was HPV negative too. When I got my results letter around a week and a bit after it said cells were normal and I was HPV negative.

This is worrying. I imagine so many women will now decline smear tests when uptake already isn’t brilliant. How many cases will be missed as a result?

I’ve thought the same thing myself with the new changes. I’m HPV negative. My (also female) partner is HPV negative. We both have been for over 15 years now also so what’s the point of us going for smears if they won’t look at the cells anyway. I don’t think this is going to prove a positive change sadly.

Yes I've been with hubby for getting on for 20 years. So it feels unlikely I've got it even sat around dormant.

I was CIN3 and had two lletz procedures and a colposcopy, I'm negative for hpv.

@ArthurMorgan I hope this HPV test only policy changes. Hope you're ok!

I know it is an awful thing to say but there is always the chance that a partner has been playing away. I think you should continue to go for the tests.

It lies dormant. You can be negative and then positive without changing partner. It’s a self swab now - or should be - so why not?

@hedgehogger1

I hope so, I find this policy very disturbing. If they only tested for hpv when I had my smear I'd be dead by now.

Is this nationwide? I had mine around a month ago and when the nurse did the bit at the beginning where they explain the test and what it's for she said they look at cells and HPV.

It’s being rolled out. I thought it would have reached everywhere by now but obviously not. There was a huge trial showing testing this way means fewer serious problems are missed and fewer women end up dying. Even though it might be counter intuitive, this way is better.

I was also age 28 at the time...

I hope this HPV test only policy changes

It isn’t HPV only, it’s HPV first, then cytology (looking at the cells).