Cervical screening

[ppeony]

Call me ignorant but I had no idea till now that the screening only checks for the HPV virus, and that abnormal cells are looked for only if the virus is present! I find this really surprising as cervical cancer can occur without the virus. For example, I have adenomyosis so have a slightly higher chance.
I was also wondering, is there any point in having your smear done if you’re with the same sexual partner as the last time you had it done, since HPV is sexually transmitted?

HPV isn’t just sexually transmitted.

Are you sure?

I think it is worth raising your specific circumstances with your GP, OP.

My understanding is that HPV can be dormant in your body and then become activated.

In terms of risk, it's based on risk level at population level. Screening programmes aren't designed or intending to catch every case.

99.7% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV. The change to HPV primary screening came in fairly recently (last 3 years or so) because it was considered to be reasonable, after lots of research. Screening programmes don't have to catch all cases, they just have to catch enough to make a difference while being economical to run.

@QueBarbaridad

Are you sure?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/

Bullet points 5-7 make it very clear. They only look at the cells if the HPV test is positive, otherwise the cells are discarded without examination.

Following with interest as I wondered the same thing. Been with current partner for over 20 years, can HPV be dormant for that long??

@Oldhag5 I think it’s possible but wouldn’t this have been flagged on your smears? I had my first smear (turned 25) and it came back HPV positive with abnormal cells so I was called in for
a colposcopy. This lead me to panic and of course research it excessively. It says it usually clears itself within 3 years but it CAN lay dormant for much longer than that. I still think 25 is far to late for a first smear as I am also sat here thinking how long have I had HPV for...

But again... HPV can be caught in other ways not just through being sexually actively... please realise this!!!

@TwinkleToeMatilda

But again... HPV can be caught in other ways not just through being sexually actively... please realise this!!!

Thanks, I didn’t realise this. I will go, just such a shame they have changed things

The NHS website doesn’t explain how else it is caught

[quote TwinkleToeMatilda]@Oldhag5 I think it’s possible but wouldn’t this have been flagged on your smears? I had my first smear (turned 25) and it came back HPV positive with abnormal cells so I was called in for
a colposcopy. This lead me to panic and of course research it excessively. It says it usually clears itself within 3 years but it CAN lay dormant for much longer than that. I still think 25 is far to late for a first smear as I am also sat here thinking how long have I had HPV for...[/quote]
25 is plenty old enough.

HPV causes changes which usually revert over time.

Under 25 is the time most women catch it. Most of the changes will revert without treatment at this stage so if you screen too early it will lead to catching and treating women who would not go on to have any problems. Everything medical is a balance of risk and benefit, and the risks of overtreatment are higher than the benefits at this stage.

They are looking for the HPV infections that are prolonged and may (possibly) lead onto more serious cell changes. HPV primary screening is better at this.

Some screening programmes are leaving a first screen until 30.

I had adenocarcinoma cervical cancer and according to my oncologist, "adenocarcinomas tend not to be HPV driven". I believe around 20% of cervical cancers are now adenocarcinoma and that percentage is rising. So yes, the screening won't pick up every case, but if you were diagnosed with cervical cancer, wouldn't you want to know that you'd done everything you could to prevent it/catch it early? Please do always attend your screenings, when they are due.

Hi! I'm a 2nd Year BA Product and Industrial Design student doing a collaborative project with a FemTech company. We are hoping to improve the cervical screening process. This survey will be anonymous, by completing this survey you accept that your answers will be used in my portfolio.

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