Help! Borderline smear, scared...

[Sazzlet]

Hi ladies

I know there have been threads on here before on this topic so sorry for repeating anything but I just really need some advice.

I got a letter last week saying my smear result showed borderline changes and I need to go back in 6 months. I actually had a smear just a year ago which was delayed due to pregnancy, and it was fine. The only reason I'd had another one so quickly was because of moving house and being under a new health trust.

I'm really scared - as I'm sure anyone is when they get this letter - but also confused about what to do. I went to see my GP on Friday to try and get some reassurance from her, but to be honest she was really unhelpful and just told me that she's had borderline changes herself and if I'm really worried have another test in 3 months then see what happens. I explained that I had private health insurance so wouldn't it be better to have it looked at straightaway rather than wait a few months and she said no, wait three months and then if it's still borderline I'll refer you. I actually felt like she was fobbing me off if I'm honest.

I'm wondering whether I should try to see another GP and insist upon a referral, or even go to a Marie Stopes clinic. I read somewhere that they can screen for HPV and if that was negative there isn't so much to worry about. What confuses me is I've been with my DH for 12+ years and I know he's not cheating so if I have got HPV how come it hasn't caused me any problems until now? And if it isn't HPV and nothing sinister, what could have caused it? I'm still breastfeeding (baby is 15 months, so not exclusively) and haven't had a period yet but sense that I'm about to start again soon - could that be it? (clutching at straws...)

I just don't want this hanging over me for the next few months, I'm a terrible worrier at the best of times and this is like a dark cloud. Either there is a problem, and they can deal with it, or there isn't and I don't need to be so anxious.

Sorry for the very long rambling post but I know there are ladies here who know a lot more about this than I do, and like others, I am googling and going nuts. Any help or advice would be very gratefully received.

Thanks at least for reading if you got this far!!

Sarah

I had a borderline smear after birth of 1st child - had a small bit further tested (endo-somethinggy), but everything went back to normal on it's own IYSWIM.

NOT saying don't follow it up and have another smear as recommended by docs, just try not to be too worried (simple to say I know - when I got my result I was really worried and scared and had to wait for further tests) 14 years on and I'm fine - never had a diddly smear after this one time

Was on extra smears for about 5 or 6 years, just to make sure everything stayed ok down below and have been all clear and fine eversince...

Could it still be everything settling down after childbirth?? That's what they put my borderline smear down to. Hope you're all ok and try not to worry until you have another smear - a second opinion is always helpful if you don't want o wait 3 months or are unsure of this as a trategy.

Hiya, try not to worry. Easier said than done, I know! But DO make sure you go back for your next smear.

Different Healthcare Trusts must have different approaches to this though as when I had borderline changes from a routine smear I was sent for a colposcopy. (Or maybe its my age?) From the biopsy they took it showed I had CIN1 changes but that no treatment was required - I just had to go back for another smear in 6 months. That smear was clear so now they just re-smear me annually.

By all means get a second opinion if it is causing you to be very worried, but rest assured that many women get abnormal results which do turn out to be nothing.

Just make sure you keep ALL smear appointments - they really are very important!

I know you're worried but there really is no need to have a repeat in 3 months.
The point of waiting for 6 months is to give the body a chance to deal with whatever has caused the minimal abnormal changes. If you have a repeat done earlier you're not giving it that chance and are increasing the possibility of it coming back abnormal again.

Borderline changes means there are cells which have changes that aren't quite enough to be definitely abnormal but aren't quite right to be definitely normal. They are often due to things such as hormones, ICUD/IUD use or infections such as Candida (Thrush) or HPV.

Basically the abnormal cells are very active , and conditions such as I just mentioned can also make the cells quite active. Because there's a slight overlap we ask people to come back again in 6 months because the body/cervix has often settled down and it's better than going off to colposcopy for something that will, the majority of the time go away on it's own, a bit the like the body dealing with a cold.
See also the cervical screening website for more info.
The presence of the cervical Erosion or ectropian can mean that these hormonal changes, with inflammation on top can lead to the sample being called borderline.
It may also due to HPV infection which most women at some point in their lives will have had and cleared. You can have had HPV years before as well, as it's spread by skin to skin contact.
I can't say what has caused your result - obviously because I haven't seen the sample. There is overlap between the changes seen in the nucleus of the cell due to things like infection which make the cells active and abnormality which is also really active cells. This is why sometimes you get asked to come back as a precaution.

To put it in perspective we report in our screening lab about 9% of all tests as abnormal and around 4% are borderline changes. The vast majority of women having borderline changes go back to normal without any treatment.

I hope this info can help to put your mind at rest a little, and please do go back for your follow up test at the right time :)

Thanks Ladies, that does really help. I've had a cervical ectropian before, many years ago whilst pregnant, so maybe that's got something to do with it. I did sneak a peek at my notes on the GP's screen and it said something like "specific infection" - does that mean they saw HPV?

I suppose I was just a little concerned because from what I read this is something that's less common in women my age (38) and I also read somewhere that the older you are the less likely it is to go back to normal by itself, so that's why I wondered about getting it checked out sooner rather than later. But what you say about giving it time, Bela, makes sense.

Oh, and I am taking my folic acid as well now because I read somewhere that this can help too!

Thanks again for the advice and support. I do feel better about it now.
Sarah x