Cervical screening results

[autumnkate]

Hi everyone

I went for a smear test about 2 weeks ago and the nurse said she was also testing for HPV.

Today I have a letter saying my HPV test is negative and ‘This means your risk of cervical cancer is very low and there is no need to check for abnormal cells’.

Does this mean my actual cervical cells aren’t being looked at?

Is this the only result I am going to get?

Genuinely confused!

Good Q&A here on HPV and cervical cancer
www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/gp-update/hpv-and-cervical-cancer-update

While I appreciate that smears aren't nice and some people have been put off by bad experiences (bad nurses!), even if the test is only looking for HPV we are looking directly at your cervix and will be able to see tumours or obvious changes so if you had one we would likely flag it up and get you sent straight to gynae. We also pick up things like polyps and cysts. So it's still worth having even though you can get private HPV testing that just involves a home swab.

@user18435677565533

Yes.

I think it's repugnant that they don't tell women they're subjecting themselves to a pointless internal examination. It's a bit shaky in terms of informed consent.

If you had known this was the process would you have consented to the internal examination or just the HPV test in the first instance?

That's a really valid point, I usually explain this after the smear, while I'm telling the lady how she will get her results. I will now do this beforehand instead. I will also contact the cervical cytology training school (NEPSEC) tomorrow and raise this with them. You are absolutely right that we should be making sure ladies understand exactly what the test is doing.

I would be wary of having many more people opt out though, if this thread is any indication. Don't forget, we are also trained to look visually for cervical abnormalities so you are getting a physical exam as well as an HPV test. You should also be asked about abnormal bleeding as that's a symptom of cervical cancer.

@RedTawny

This worries me a lot. I think I'm going to try and go private and get it done properly next time I'm due

I thought of doing this but does private smear definitely check cells?

I raised abnormal bleeding at my last smear in Oct (again, following stage 3 treatment last year) - periods 90-100 days apart, flooding, fist size clots. I was fobbed off.

I'm now really panicking.

This is one clinic offering private smears, they don't check for cells either unless HPV positive. www.londondoctorsclinic.co.uk/services/womens-health/private-smear-test/
Looked at a few others but they either didn't say or the information was written before the screening protocol changed, so may not be up to date.
I'm sure you could find one though, usually if you're paying you can get what you want!

It shouldn't be necessary, as your risk would be so low without HPV, but I can understand wanting the reassurance.

@MimsyBorogroves

I raised abnormal bleeding at my last smear in Oct (again, following stage 3 treatment last year) - periods 90-100 days apart, flooding, fist size clots. I was fobbed off.

I'm now really panicking.

You should raise those symptoms with your GP. We mostly ask about bleeding after sex, as that would be cervical rather than what sounds like period related bleeding? However, any abnormal bleeding should be discussed with your GP and you should have been advised to do so. I'm sorry you were fobbed off. Gynaecology health issues are frequently under investigated and that's not okay.

GP has fobbed me off too unfortunately. Told me it's "probably normal for you" and offered to put me on the mini pill.