Smear result - HPV positive

[Dancer12345]

Just had the results of my smear test. HPV positive but they tested the cells and no changes. Have to go back in a year.

Anyone else had this? I’ve read online that “it’s a warning sign that cervical cancer may develop” but then says that many people have HPV and it goes away fine.

AIBU to feel a little bit unsettled by this, even though logically I know there’s nothing I can do for a year and rationally it’s probably going to be ok.

[Totoro1234]

@hwotsit thank you so so much for your message back, it really means a lot as I feel quite alone with it all.
Like you said, my GP didn't seem to know much more than I did. He also didn't seem aware that it could be dormant and reappear. He seemed to think it's probably been there the whole time (however there's lots online about the virus being dormant so I think we are right!)
Interesting about the night sweats. Doc seems to think it is likely related to my anxiety at the moment.
Do you know if you still have the virus or are you between smears?
Again, thank-you. I feel so low about all of this and it's great to have a rational mind to talk to!
Like you said, hopefully this just means whatever this virus may or may not cause- it can be dealt with.

Also wanting to think about babies soon so this has been a bit of a blow in that department.

Xx

[Totoro1234]

@takeitbackandstartallover thank-you so much for your message.
Interesting that in a lot of people it lies dormant. I'm thinking this must have happened with me.
I'm hoping this news becomes normal and I start feeling a bit better about it all.
After your retest and biopsy did they tell you the HPV was gone?
Thanks xx

[Totoro1234]

@hwotsit I really hope I do start to feel better- you have definitely helped me, so thank-you 🙂 reassuring to speak to someone in a similar situation who once felt rubbish and now doesn't!

The GP today said that the nurses who do the smears often see abnormal growths there and then when they do the smear itself, this is pretty reassuring too.

Just still in the zone of feeling a weird sense of guilt and fear...sure this will pass though.

Hopeful we'll get rid of this virus but if not just yet, like you said, we are so lucky to be in the system and be monitored and any abnormalities sorted out!

🙂 Xx

[Totoro1234]

Hey!
So my doc didn't seem to say whether I should stop taking the pill or not.
I'm really not sure what to do. I've been on the combined pill for around 14 years. No issues although I wonder whether my last 2 periods have been heavier than usual (likely stress related!).
Also worried if I come off the pill though I'll start panicking when I get dodgy periods (likely!).
Research says there's a link between the pill and HPV persistence.
I'm still really quite stressed about all of this I think it's because I'm having to wait 3 months for them to get more cells.
Sorry for another question! Xx

[LarkDescending]

I am 51 and have had persistent HPV for over 20 years (since my very first relationship). I had CIN1 in my 20s which was laser-treated. Now just had my recent screening result and the virus is still there. No abnormal cells at this point but like others on here I will continue to be under surveillance. We are lucky the NHS has switched to primary HPV testing, otherwise problems would only be picked up once cells started changing. At my age I wouldn’t be due another screening for 5 years if it wasn’t for the knowledge the virus is there.

Those of you with new diagnoses shouldn’t panic as it’s highly likely to sort itself out, and if it doesn’t the NHS will be keeping a good eye on you. Under the old screening system you’d probably have had and cleared the virus without ever knowing about it.

[ChilledBee]

The important thing to understand is that before, they'd look for abnormal cells and if you had them, then they'd look for HPV. Now they look for HPV then look for abnormal cells if you are HPV positive. So it is possible that you've had HPV before this test but they never diagnosed it because you didnt have abnormal cells.

My GP told me this because I have an upcoming smear and she said "listen, lots more women are being diagnosed with HPV because of the change in testing procedure. It doesn't mean you've suddenly acquired an STD from your partner or you'll definitely have cancer but it will mean a repeat smear if they only find HPV".

[Danielle121212]

I have been looking at this thread for reassurance. Just received my smear results and it says that I have HPV but they called me back in 3 months as they didn’t have enough cells to test. I had my last smear three years ago and had no abnormal cells but they didn’t test for HPV then.
I’m absolutely beside myself and feel awful. I’m desperately needing reassurance as I’m thinking the worst constantly. 3 months feels like such a long time. Have you had any updates?

Thanks in advance x

[Carabu1]

This happened me, and it developed into pre-cancerous cells. This sounds scary, but they were low grade and I had an operation to remove them. I now have an annual smear, and while I still haven't cleared the HPV, I haven't had any more cells changes either. So don't panic - chances are it will clear, and even if it doesn't that doesn't mean you'll get cancer. I am just grateful we have these programmes and I am able to keep a regular eye on it. Sadly you can't make your body clear the HPV - I don't smoke, have any other health issues, and am an exercise lover - my body is just rubbish at clearing HPV, clearly!

[Danielle121212]

@Totoro1234
Have you had any news? I’m about to embark on a similar situation to yourself and could do with hearing how it pans out. Getting a letter saying you have HPV but they didn’t get enough cells to test really is stressful. I’ve got health anxiety and I am thinking the worst :(

[Totoro1234]

Hi @Danielle121212 please please please do not worry. I was riddled with anxiety and felt so stressed when I had the same result as you. I ended up having another smear 3 months later but the nurse was concerned that she didn’t get enough cells again (I have cervical ectopy- also nothing to worry about- just means that having a smear is likely to make you bleed and thus not be able to get enough cells to test), so ended up going to gynae to have my smear again. My results came back as normal cells but with HPV still present. I went from being in a really dark place about it to now feeing much more rational, I don’t think about it much now at all. Every professional will tell you that it is incredibly common. Most if not all women who have had sex will have had it at some point, and it’s often transient (meaning it comes and goes) it just means that at the time of your smear it was present and detected. I’ve spoken to lots of girls and friends who have had abnormal cells removed (meaning they had HPV). If there are any abnormal cells they will get zapped if needed and if there isn’t but HPV is still present, you will be kept a close eye on with more regular smears. (The joys of being a woman hey!) I promise you do not need to worry, you are normal and I think it’s great you went for your smear and are looking after yourself. I’m here if you need any more help or have any questions! Feel like I’ve done that much reading around it all! Perhaps something you could do which might help if you don’t already, is take some vitamins to help boost your immune system :-)

[Totoro1234]

@Danielle121212 PS the worst bit about this is the anxiety it causes, I felt exactly the same and also have health anxiety— I want you to know though that the way you feel right now will pass, you are and will be absolutely fine...sending you a big virtual hug!

[Poetryinaction]

I had this and abnormal cells, 10 years ago. All my smears since are normal.

[Danielle121212]

Thank you for replying! It won’t let me reply to you directly now so hopefully this reaches you. I appreciate you taking the time to explain how it panned out for you. The health anxiety just seems to take over. I’ve done some research and got reassuring news around this but then stupidly started searching for the worst case scenario ones.
I’m glad you have the all clear around your cells. I can live with the HPV and rationalise that to some extent, it’s just difficult because they didn’t get enough cells to test for abnormalities. That is what sends my mind into overdrive. They also never tested me for HPV last time so then I start to think about what if I’ve had HPV for ages and the cells have been changing. Health anxiety is the worst isn’t it? I had groin strain on and off last year from carrying my toddler everywhere so started trying to link any issues I’ve had with possible cancer. The fact you had the same results as me is much more reassuring and I hope I get the results you did on my repeat. I am glad you are in a much better place with it all now.
I’ve started to take a vitamin to boost my immune system and hopefully that will help clear the HPV. Thanks again @Totoro1234
Xx

[Danielle121212]

@Poetryinaction good to hear that all your smears since are normal. I think it’s so easy to assume the worse case scenario so appreciate you sharing. Xx

[Danielle121212]

@Carabu1 thank you for sharing your experience. I’m glad you have now had the cells removed. Was that the first time you were made aware of the HPV when you found out you had abnormal cells? Xx

[Totoro1234]

It’s so easy to think irrationally isn’t it! Some things you should definitely feel reassured about is that the the nurse would have been able to see any growths/ severe issues when they looked at your cervix for the smear. Often growths/ cancer is spotted when the nurse sees your cervix during the smear. If they saw anything really worrying, you would know about it. Another thing to think is that if you did have some abnormal cells right now, they take years and years and years to turn into anything cancerous- remember 3 years ago your cells were normal. Also, cervical cancer often has symptoms which you might have noticed. The pain you had would not have come and go, it would have gradually got worse if it was related to anything sinister. It’s so strange what the mind can do, I started to imagine all kinds of pains and sensations to further convince myself something was wrong. Really try and feel relaxed, nothing has changed between before you had the smear and now. What is so great is that you are going to be sorted because you went for your smear 🙂 I hope you can start to enjoy your days and weeks before your follow up smear. I just hope I can make you feel a bit better because I know how rubbish I felt back then when I got the result.

[Totoro1234]

@Danielle121212 whoops- didn’t tag you, please see my message above- hope you can see it 🙂

[Danielle121212]

@totoro1234 thank you! I really appreciate your advice as it’s hard to find much online about people who have HPV but inadequate cells. The nurse knows I have health anxiety so yes hopefully she would have raised it and maybe mentioned it to me. I think with the whole coronavirus situation everything is also heightened. I only ever get the strain after lifting really heavy stuff, I’m quite petite but yes it comes and go so I will try and let go of that. I will try and remain rational, thank you! The brain is a powerful thing! Hopefully the next few months go quickly. Thanks again and I’m glad you are now able to manage the initial anxiety it caused 😊😊 xx

[Carabu1]

@Danielle121212 - yes it was. It was about 4 years ago, so before the change to reporting all hpvs. I think this way is better, as I’d probably had it ages and that’s why cells developed - so if you have it the chance for regular screening to catch isn’t early is good. It annoys me how little awareness there is about hpv - I’ve heard friends say things like ‘oh you’ll only get it if you sleep around’, which really isn’t true - anyone having sex can get it however careful or monogamous, and it just makes people feel more ashamed and anxious. Gah. Saying that, before it happened to me I always just clear smears as a given - I guess we all do until it’s us getting an abnormal one!!

[Totoro1234]

@Danielle121212 absolutely, if the nurse had seen anything really worrying, you wouldn’t be waiting 3 months for another smear 👍🏻
@carabu1 is so right, it’s very frustrating how little awareness there is and how worried this makes people!
Yep, also nothing to do with how many sexual partners you have had, I haven’t had many at all! Nobody should feel guilty for having this incredibly common virus. It’s just that our bodies haven’t cleared it quickly or that it’s shown up again at the time of your smear (lots of info about it being a transient infection- it lies dormant/ goes away and then reappears sometimes).
Really hope you feel reassured 👍🏻👍🏻

[EmbarrassedUser]

@Dancer12345 I just got this and I was so upset. DH had to read the letter for me because as soon as I saw the word cancer I assumed I was about to die in the next 5 minutes 😩 I rang my doctor for more reassurance and she was lovely so I suggest you do the same. I just wish I didn’t have to wait until next March for my next test.

[SusanneLinder]

Had this 20 years ago. Had to get pre cancers cells burnt off. Regular smears since then and clear smears since.
I remember panicking at the time, but you will be fine OP. Just make sure you attend all your appointments when they call for you and don't miss any.

[Danielle121212]

@Totoro1234 sorry one more question. Had you ever been tested for HPV prior to your HPV positive result? Now having anxiety that even though I had normal cells last time, they didn’t rest for HPV so am I going to have developed cancer? Sorry. This health anxiety goes in circles. I settle about one thing and a new thing to start worrying about appears.

@Carabu1 the little awareness is tough and I almost feel embarrassed telling people (I know I shouldn’t) hard to shake the scope around it though.

@Dancer12345 sorry that you have to wait for another year. I can imagine that gave you anxiety but positive that they are keep an eye and I know it takes a while for cells to change (if they are going to) with HPV. I am glad that the doctor reassured you and that you are feeling better now.

@SusanneLinder thank you for sharing your experience. I hope that if I have some abnormalities that they aren’t severe and all will be okay. I will definitely be going for my appointments. I will try and get through the door earlier if I can 😂