If I had a clear smear test 3 years ago is it likely to change?

[cheveux]

Sorry posting on AIBU for traffic.

I have a smear test this afternoon. I had my last 3 years ago and had no HPV. I’ve not changed sexual partners and neither has my partner. Is it likely to have changed? I can’t really work out what the smear test is now - it’s just a test to see if you have HPV, isn’t it?

It's too check for cervical cancer. My doctor told me that just because a previous test was negative for HPV, it doesn't mean you don't have it, it just means you weren't "shedding" the virus at the time is off the test.

It is but just because you were negative 3 years ago doesn't mean you don't have hpv. It can lie dormant for years.
I've got it. It's been detected at every smear for the last 10 years. I had a colposcopy about 3 years ago to check cells (all good thankfully) and then, at my last smear 18 months ago, it came negative! No sign of hpv.

@steff13 I see - I didn’t realise it could be dormant. Thanks!

I don’t think the smear test does check for cervical cancer anymore though, does it? They only do that if you have HPV? I thought this changed a few years ago because everyone was very upset about it because it was just budget cutting.

@THNG5 I had no idea about that, thanks! So glad you’re all clear now. Aren’t bodies/viruses strange!

I take home HPV tests now.

You’re right Op - smears are checked for HPV and if there none, they aren’t tested further.

if you take 3-yearly HPV tests, I can’t see the difference personally.

ok, so you don’t have a nurse looking at your cervix - but the likelihood of them picking something up from a visual check must be very low, I’d have thought.

Yes it’s only a HPV test now. Samples don’t get looked at unless HPV positive. Apparently it can lie dormant so you could have a negative test then have a positive test at a later date and vice versa. So you could still have HPV. I would rather do a home HPV test then get a smear if it’s positive.

A nurse doing my smear once explained to me that it is also a visual exam, as they can see if something doesn't look right with the cervix.

But yes, the test sample is now only checked for HPV, which I do worry about because not all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. But as it's not possible insist that the sample is actually looked at properly we all just have to hope for the best.

I’m with @Halstead and pp. I just do the at home tests now.

My first smear was clear, the next one I had 3 years later I had hpv (had not had a sexual partner at all in this time).
Due to the hpv I had to go back the following year for another, told I still have hpv and bordline abnormal cells, same again the next year.
I was told to go back again the following year (this October) and if abnormal cells still present even if borderline, they will do a biopsy.
So yes, you can changes between smears, this is why you have more than one 🙂

Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it!

I guess this means I’ll have a few weeks of nerves waiting for the results… the life of someone with health anxiety. Ah well!