AIBU to ask this forum about colposcopies?

[KitKatKittyKay]

Hi all!
apologies, I am not used to posting-just reading and can’t find a health or gyno board.

Due to lack of info from the dr.s I am asking you guys for stories and experiences. I have already read back through so many related posts that have been helpful but none that matches my experience.

I had a smear done in September 2022 which came back clear. No HPV.

I’m in my late 30’s for info.
For the past few months I have been getting pink spotting after sex with pelvic discomfort in the days after. Finally got an appointment with a doctor who told me what she thought it probably was (ectropion) but after she realised that I wasn’t on hormonal birth control insisted on examining me. After the examination she said it looked like an ectropion but she had a ‘worst case scenario’ in the back of her mind so would refer me urgently to a gyno.
After reading more about this it sounds like I’m on the 2ww cancer pathway.

Had a blood test Friday morning to accompany my referral which I had this morning.
I had a colposcopy, the dr put vinegar on my cervix to show abnormal cells and then took a biopsy. She told me she ‘could see an ectropy with mild changes’ and results would take 4-6 weeks.

I'm just so confused. She wouldn’t give much more info and I wasn’t in a great frame of mind at the time.

Why would she use the word ectropy- which is benign but then take a biopsy?

the NHS website says that if no abnormal cells are found you will usually be told at your appointment, but she didn’t tell me this.

Because it’s unlikely to be hpv related I am worried it’s a much more serious cancer and later stage than if I’d have caught it with a smear.
I don’t know if I can manage 4-6 weeks of waiting and feeling like this.

thanks in advance everyone

www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_health

I have had a few colposcopies. I had grade 3 cells. CIN3 to be precise. They gave me the LLETZ, which lasers the cells away. In my case they had to laser the whole top layer of my cervix off. Wasn’t painful, little uncomfortable to be expected. I was absolutely fine afterwards. The waiting around is worrying but honestly yours doesn’t sound anything serious. Obviously I am not a gynaecologist or have X-ray eyes I’m just judging off your info in the post. I’m sure you’ll be fine.x

She said she saw mild changes, so that is both very common and much better than something obviously far along! The biopsy is just to check for sure whether they can leave it be or should proactively remove the cells.

Totally understand you’re freaking out but so far seems very standard for a few rogue cells that would just need checked every year or so.

I've just been through pretty much the exact same process.

The biopsy just confirmed for definite the visual exam/assessment that it was an ectropian. Once they had that confirmed I was offered another appointment for cryotherapy to cauterize the ectropian which took about 3 minutes and was complelty painless.

Try not to worry.

Very standard I think- try not to worry. I had a colposcopy then a LLETZ biopsy at a follow up appointment, the latter under local anaesthetic. It’s quite standard I think to remove any abnormal cells, cancerous or not. They then test the biopsy and give you another smear six months later.

Check out Jos Trust (CC charity) - it has a helpful forum and you will probably get a good amount of helpful responses if you post there!

Thanks everyone! You’ve eased my mind somewhat. I find that 99% of the info online is about hpv driven cancer and because I tested clear for that it seemed like an unknown wilderness. The cancer caused by hpv, although scary seems slow moving and easily treatable. So I was just panicking about this.
thank you ❤️