Smear test referral

Original poster

Sosososoworriedxxx · 29/11/2023 11:04

They said it wasn't an STI.

OP posts:

Catza · 29/11/2023 11:24

I am HPV positive and on my second test I was asked to go for colposcopy at the hospital as HPV was still present. Did you have negative test in the last three years? Sometimes they ask you to come in because they didn't harvest enough cells at your regular smear. If you have negative test at the previous session, chances are you don't have cancer as it takes over 10 years for HPV to progress to cell changes and even longer for it to progress to cancer.

Original poster

Sosososoworriedxxx · 29/11/2023 11:33

Catza · 29/11/2023 11:24

I am HPV positive and on my second test I was asked to go for colposcopy at the hospital as HPV was still present. Did you have negative test in the last three years? Sometimes they ask you to come in because they didn't harvest enough cells at your regular smear. If you have negative test at the previous session, chances are you don't have cancer as it takes over 10 years for HPV to progress to cell changes and even longer for it to progress to cancer.

Thank you. My smears have all been negative. I've had blood tests in 2022 as well and nothing. I guess I'm just worried as my mum had cancer and also single parent to a primary school age child.

OP posts:

RumbleMum · 29/11/2023 11:37

I know it's scary but as a PP said if you've been having tests every few years it's highly, highly unlikely to be cancer as it just doesn't develop very fast. Precancerous cells are not at all uncommon and easily dealt with - I've had this done before and it's all very routine. And it may simply be that they need to redo the test.

Original poster

Sosososoworriedxxx · 04/12/2023 21:48

I thought I'd give an update. So I went and they did swabs and a biopsy (my God it was painful) and she said everything looks normal and that they will contact me if they did find anything from the swabs. So I'm reassured now.

I also found out that the HPV is activated through sexual contact (not STI) and it could be anywhere in my sexual history and that HPV takes years and years to show up. It can happen to any woman who's ever had sex I believe. I have another smear in 1 year instead of 3 now. I think I've explained that right about the HPV but correct me if I'm wrong.

OP posts:

Catza · 05/12/2023 07:48

Sosososoworriedxxx · 04/12/2023 21:48

I thought I'd give an update. So I went and they did swabs and a biopsy (my God it was painful) and she said everything looks normal and that they will contact me if they did find anything from the swabs. So I'm reassured now.

I also found out that the HPV is activated through sexual contact (not STI) and it could be anywhere in my sexual history and that HPV takes years and years to show up. It can happen to any woman who's ever had sex I believe. I have another smear in 1 year instead of 3 now. I think I've explained that right about the HPV but correct me if I'm wrong.

Well done. Fingers crossed everything comes back normal. I am having my colposcopy and biopsy later today and hoping for similarly positive outcome.
You are right about the HPV, it's not STI. It's a virus which is present on a skin and is in the same category as common warts. So you can pass it on through skin contact, including during protected sex.