Colposcopy was fine,a year on and another abnormal smear :( Anyone else have had the same experience???

[tetti]

Ok,had 2 abnormal smears,went for a colposcopy and was told the cervix looked perfectly healthy,nothing abnormal at all.
! year on,another smear,and it's come back as mild dyskaryosis,again !!!
I have to go back for another colposcopy (am waiting for the referal letter),but I feel worried sick!

Has anyone else gone through the same thing?!?
I am just so worried,puzzled and concerned as to why,yet again,it's come back showing abnormalities,especially after the colposcopy was fine.I have spoken to my gp who can't give an answer as to why this may have happened.I am so worried about cancer as I lost my mum to that horrid disease,so may be more paranoid than I should be?
I know the purpose of these screenings are to remove any abnormal cells before they turn sinister,but it doesn't stop you worrying though,does it?:(

Can't offer you any advice as such, but I do understand the worry. I had CIN3 removed with laser treatment earlier in the year.

It is strange how the smear is showing abnormalities but the colposcopy was clear .

This forum is very helpful, although much quieter than Mumsnet so might take a while for a reply - might be worth trying?

Your immune system can clear mild dyskariosis, however this doesn't always mean it has got rid of the virus (HPV) which caused the abnomalities - that can stubbornly hang around and opportunistically strike again. It's possible your body will once again deal with the abnormal cells, or the virus may have been more successful at taking hold this time, in which case the abnormality will still be visible at time of colposcopy.

I had mild dyskariosis, followed by normal smear results, followed by CIN3.

Sometimes if it's a small area affected it can be difficult to see colposcopically but cells will present in the cytology sample because they were removed by the sampling device.

Occasionally the top of the vagina where it meets the cervix internally can be affected by HPV. The cells here can also be sampled at the time of cervical screening. When you go back for your colposcopy they will have a good luck.

Working in a screening lab we do see women who have low grade abnormals (mild dyskaryosis) on and off, it may be as rabbitstew because the HPV infection hasn't entirely cleared. Colposcopy is really good at detecting high grade abnormalities so they would have usually seen it if were there.

It's national policy to be referred back again, particularly if they didn't take an biopsies last time you were there, its mostly a precaution.

Have a look at the colposcopists' website for further info.

Thank you so much Bela,I really appreciate you posting this,this is exactly the kind of information that I have been searching for.Big hugs,and thank's again:) xxx

No problems, though reading it back, there's loads of typos, sorry

*good look not good luck

Hope the appointment goes well, ask them lots of questions if you want, as the colp staff are more used to dealing with this than your GP. Write the q's down if need be!

:)