To ask about HPV+ (including 16 and 18) with symptoms?

[GarlandsinGreece]

My GYN is off today, so I’m kind of reeling in isolation, having received the results.

My Pap showed abnormal cells of uncertain origin, plus I’m HPV positive for fourteen strains (including 16 and 18).

I’ve had lower abdominal distension and frequent urination since August (did antibiotics as they assumed a UTI). I’m getting a colposcopy this Thursday, but needed some reassurance before then from others who might have been in a similar boat. My Pap in 2020 seemed to be normal.

It is most unlikely that you are positive for fourteen HPV subtypes. In the UK the HPV test gives a positive result if there is any one of the high-risk HPV subtypes identified, not ALL of them. What exactly did your test results say?

Abnormal cells, even in the presence of HPV, can go away on their own or they can be treated fairly easily at colposcopy. If you are attending for regular screening tests - which you appear to be - then you are at very, very, very low risk of significant disease.

Your abdominal symptoms sound unrelated to me. I am not a healthcare professional but I do know a lot about the English cervical screening programme. Here, a woman can be referred for colposcopy with low-grade cell abnormalities and HPV, and if the colposcopy outcome is normal then it would be usual practice not to do another test for 3 years. Even if the colposcopy is not completely normal, there are options for watchful waiting instead of immediate treatment - because HPV-related cell changes really do take many years to develop into actual disease.

Don't worry about your screening test result, it's not that uncommon. Go for your colposcopy appointment and take it from there - hopefully you'll be able to come back soon and tell us it was all fine.