To ask if smear tests are as worth having anymore?

[sandradailys]

Not saying they're not worth having, but wondering if they're worth having as much as they use to be

Before I get shot down, this is because -

I have read they don't actually send of cell samples anymore, they're just checking for HPV?

So they're not the same anymore. It just checks for HPV?

And if you didn't have it the last time, and haven't had sex or still married, it isn't going to suddenly come up on the next one if it was negative last time?

I'm really trying to debate if it's worth getting. For very private reasons that are extremely painful.

Thank you to anyone who can clear my lack of knowledge up! Or point me in the right direction

This is interesting op, I had wondered the same. Sounds like hpv can lie dormant so it's worth continuing to go for the testing, especially as my generation didn't get the have vaccine at school.

HPV can crop back up though; I had positive HPV a 4 years ago and never had it before that and no change in partner so if I hadn’t bothered going based on that I hadn’t had HPV in the past and same partner they wouldn’t have detected the abnormal cells and who knows where I’d be today

So (almost) all people with cervical cancer had the HPV virus?

I didn't know that.

I once had genital warts - believe this is connected with HPV virus, does that automatically mean I have HPV?

Won’t be having a smear again, my last smear sample ended up in the bin as HPV negative, I will just buy the HPV test from Superdrug and test myself. I was furious that I went through an agonising smear test and they didn’t even look at the sample, never again.

The value of a service is determined by cost benefit. Cervical cancer can hit at any age, but if the NHS decided to give women under the age of 25 a pap smear and more frequently than once every 3 years, they're unlikely to catch many cases, if any at all and would be a waste of taxpayer money.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a cancer-causing virus. Cancer of the cervix, once in progression, is very hard to treat and often doesn't present with symptoms until it's progressed. For this reason, I firmly believe in attending every pap smear you're invited to so it can be caught early.

I personally hate having it done because I'm very tiny down there (every nurse who has performed the procedure on me has said that and sorry for the TMI) and it hurts like a mofo. I'd take an ultrasound probe over a speculum any day. Temporary pain and discomfort is better than looking at something that could make you infertile or worse, kill you.

I once had genital warts - believe this is connected with HPV virus, does that automatically mean I have HPV?

No. Completely different virus.

Of course its worth having! The new test for high-risk HPV is more specific/accurate than cytology tests, which is associated with a lot of false negatives for pre-cancerous cells.

If you test positive for high-risk HPV, then you are recalled for a cytology test. Such a large proportion of the population are infected with HPV, but only a small percentage have the high-risk types, which are associated with cervical cancer. With such a high prevalence rate, it is far more effective to test for these high-risk virus types and then to follow-up with those who have them. Especially taking into consideration that most young people are now receiving the HPV vaccine.

At the end of the day, these screening tests have prevented 70% of cervical cancer deaths up until now. If everyone with a cervix had their smear test as recommended, they could prevent over 80%. I'd prefer to be in that 80% thanks. I want to enjoy my children's lives.

MY last smear was fine. The smear I had this summer showed HPV and also grade 3 severe precancerous cells which I had to have removed at the hospital. If I hadn't been tested I wouldn't have known. I had the results and there was no cancer so fingers crossed all is okay. But it can go from zero to nothing really quickly and your home test wont tell you that

The process could probably be improved. But at the moment, as that's what we're working with, yes, I'd say it's worthwhile.

The doctor / nurse also gets a look at your cervix whilst doing it and can notice any abnormalities.

Obviously it is voluntary and people can say no for whatever reason, but as a screening test I'm grateful for them and always go.

Not all cervical cancer is caused by HPV, and this is what worries me about the new screening practice.

Jade Goody did attend initial screenings, but not the follow-ups after cell abnormalities were found. Nothing to do with the OP.

Yes, absolutely worth having.

HPV can lay dormant for years - I tested positive at my last smear depsite having never done so before, and having been in a monogamous (on both sides) relationship for ten years.

Please go for the smear, it can be uncomfortable, but it's only a few minutes of your life vs potentially saving your life...

HPV lays dormant and if you've had it it's likely to recur again

But 99% of cases are due to HPV.

You don't need an invasive examination to test for HPV. it's abusive to put women through that just to put the sample in the bin.

Genital warts are caused by HPV?

That makes sense.

Does anyone know why, as it feels unnecessarily invasive type of procedure when a simple HPV test could be carried out (and encourage a higher take up as a pp has mentioned) then a smear test taken only if needed.

This is something you should be asking a medical professional. By putting this ‘information’ on a forum whether it is correct or not could make someone not as informed in a position to believe possible incorrect information which could potentially be life changing or even fatal for them.

This is interesting.
I've been with DH for 20 years.
15 years ago I had CIN1 which went into CIN3 within 12 months. Had LLETZ and then tested clear and negative HPV.

My smears were all normal until 5 years ago when I tested HPV+ but no abnormal cells and my yearly smears since then have all showed the same , positive for HPV.

When I went for Colposcopy I asked about the HPV reoccurring and the dr said it could be with me being perimenopausal as it lowers your immunity, so what was previously dormant has become active again.

I don't know if that's correct, as when I first tested + 5 years ago I thought it meant DH had cheated on me.

Its very confusing tbh.

I guess it comes down to:

How trustworthy is your DH?
How thorough was the last test?
Do you have any symptoms or discomfort?

Having watched a family member die slowly from CC at 23yo, I played safe and had my last test. I haven't had a relationship in five years so maybe I'll think again for the next one.

So the 1% may not have their cancer caught before symptoms present, which could mean far more radical treatment or a terminal diagnosis. They would have been found under the old system.
I believe it’s a money saving Initiative that will cost some women their lives.

I'm with @LadyVictoriaSponge . If I haven't tested positive for HPV in my 46 years, then I doubt I ever will. In future I will test every few years with a private HPV test (which will probably always be negative) and avoid the awful, painful smears.

I've only had 1 partner for the last 15 years and I had HPV a few smears ago.

Gone in the most recent one.

It's worth it. It can lay dormant.

I have the same question, in the same circumstances.

I've also wondered, considering I'm currently negative for hpv, whether it's worth paying privately for the vaccine

Get a private one if you can afford it. They’ll look at cells and test for HPV.

also it isn’t just for cancer. My last one showed a cervical polyp that I had to have removed.