Loop excision follow up

[GiddySeal]

Hi. I was just wondering if anyone had similar experience. I had a loop excision in June 2024. I had a letter saying no abnormal cells detected but still hpv detected. They discharged me back to the gp and told me I needed a smear in 2027. I don’t know what got me thinking about it but I’ve gone in a bit of a rabbit hole now and panicking that I should of had a follow up after 6months of having a loop excision and HPV still there. I feel I have to put my trust in the care of the clinic but I do have doubts that I should be seen sooner. Anyway I’ll speak to the doctor on Monday. Sorry for the long message. Just wanted to see if anyone else had similar experience!! Thank ☺️

Hi! 2027 smear is essentially the follow up - it's much sooner than you'd normally have a smear. The possible change from HPV to abnormal changes is a slow process. If they've got a large sample (from a biopsy or a LLETZ) and haven't found abnormal cells, it's very unlikely that anything dangerous would develop before your next check up.

I have enormous sympathy for the 'knowing something isn't quite right' dread. I've been under the colposcopy department for a couple of years. Hopefully it helps a bit to remember that HPV aren't cell changes and cell changes aren't cancer (sorry to use the word you haven't). The first two are warning signs for the possible (far from guaranteed) development of the third, years down the line. Fortunately you know you don't have cell changes. That's more information than someone that is due their next smear after 5 years who didn't have HPV at the last one, if you see what I mean. Huge sympathy but try to be reassured that they found nothing. A huge percentage of the population will have high risk HPV at some point and in most cases it clears itself in 1-2 years 💐

Sorry, just to add - I would still check with your GP. Persistent HPV would normally be monitored by a colposcopy clinic, I think. But the whole system seems to be under massive pressure and discharging to the community doesn't seem uncommon in my area. So yep - I think you should be reassured by the results but also check with the GP that procedure has been followed

Aw thanks for replying back. Yes makes sense ☺️ I’ll speak to the docs on Monday as they have referred me back to their care apparently. I think there is something that test of cure when you have no abnomfal changes but still hpv but I don’t know if that is accurate. Thanks again for your reply 🥰