Abnormal smear and hpv

[lucyfluff]

Hi, I have received a letter today saying I have low grade abnormalities and HPV has been detected. Obviously scared myself now on the Internet and have to go for an apt in next 5 days to have a look at cells. My last smear in 2010 was fine and dd3 in April 2012. Really wanted to ttc in two months now I'm so worried. Any advice would be great

I don't know what the procedure is these days but I just wanted to give you a bit of reassurance.10 years ago I had an abnormal smear and pre cancerous cells were detected. I had treatment for it and went on to have 2 children with no problems conceiving.

I know it can be very frightening, I got my call 3 days before Christmas, but try not to worry yourself, we have smears to catch this sort of thing early. I hope your appointment goes OK and you can get done whatever needs doing quickly so you can get on with the fun part of having another DC!

It sounds like you are being referred for colposcopy. It's just like a smear and not too uncomfortable. They have a better look at the cells and decide if further treatment is necessary. I had one about 8 months ago then had a cone biopsy where they removed the abnormal cells and then sent them away for further tests. I then had a repeat colposcopy a month ago and all was normal so back to two yearly smears. It was scary but they were very reassuring and the likelihood of that treatment being successful is high.

I don't think colposcopy has problems with fertility, but talk to the consultants. Please try not to worry. They are very quick to deal with these issues.

www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/hpv-triage-test-of-cure.html

Thank you for the replies. I have been online researching most of the afternoon!!! I'm praying its not too serious and will have a chat with my gp we'd ( had a apt already booked to discuss conceiving ironically)...will update once I have any news xx

Perhaps my experience can reassure you. I had a colposcopy about 6 years ago after an abnormal smear. They treated it and I got pregnant about 3 weeks later. I had yearly smears since then and no further problems have developed.

Could I ask what treatment you had neolara? It does reassure me hearing positive experiences xx

If the colposcopy shows minimal or low grade abnormalities then you may not need any treatment. Alternatively the colposcopist may suggest taking a biopsy if it's a small area. If the abnormal area looks a bit more abnormal (remember this is all pre-cancerous changes) then they may offer you a treatment called LLETZ. Was there a leaflet explaining your abnormal result and what colposcopy is with your result letter?

There's more information here about abnormal results, colposcopy and investigations.

I had this, in fact i had serious abnormalities and a very small area of cancerous cells - it was all treated on my colposcopy appointment, i had a LLETZ treatment which is very straightforward - i even got to watch on the tv screen i never really wanted to be so intimate with my cervix but it was interesting! The biopsy confirmed that everything was removed. I had to have a further colposcopy (this is just a posh word for them having a look with a camera) in six months and again after a year, i was then back to my normal surgery for yearly smears which i had for twelve years and now back to 3 yearly recall. That was in 1997, i have had another DD since then and there was no complications whatsoever. The fact that you have low grade abnormalities on your smear means you are VERY unlikely to be at the stage i was, CIN111 with cancerous cells, the reason i am telling you my story is that the treatment, for me, was simpler than a visit to the dentist. Try not to worry, you are in a good position because you will be on yearly smears (uncomfortable and inconvenient at most) which means that nothing nasty will get the chance to develop. Oh and the colposcopy, completely painless - you may only need that, if you need LLETZ its uncomfortable but not to bad, will need some paracetemol for a dull ache afterwards - although i went shoe shopping straight afterwards :) Do take someone with you though as you may not be able to drive back, messing about with your cervix can make some people a bit shakey on their pins for a bit.

Thankyou ladies!!! Yes I had a leaflet explaining what a colposcopy was and that because I had a positive for Hpv they automatically refer for this...I've done a lot of reading this weekend so I guess until they actually do the test I will have to wait and see. It's great hearing about other people's advice (obviously not a nice topic!!!). so thankyou for sharing.xx

I had LLETZ treatment. Like LEMis' experience, it was absolutely fine.

Just wanted to update if anyone read this thread. I had my colposcopy apt yesterday (was V nervous!) but it really wasn't that bad at all. The nurses were both lovely and after examining me she said i have a small area of cells with mild colour change that she is expecting to be CIN 1. I had two biopsies taken which will take six weeks for results but no treatment until then. If it comes back as CIN 1 I will have a repeat smear in one year if anything above that it will be removed in two months. I feel so relieved about it all now and happier I'm being checked on to stop anything progressing. She mentioned HPV and said they just recommend not to smoke ( which I don't anyway) and the immune system should fight the virus so it clears up. X

Glad to hear your update. Good to hear that having or had HPV does not mean it will turn cancerous and most cases heal themselves.
Good luck with your check-ups.