Smear test and HPV

[Winnie12345]

Dear all,
I would like some advice and handhold if possible please. I am so worried and things have been playing on my mind a lot.
I always had regular smears and they came back normal. My last smear test detected abnormal cells and the letter said that they also tested for HPV and it was positive. I am invited for colposcopy.
I know that these cells are probably not cancerous but I am so worried about this HPV virus. It may sound dramatic but it feels like the life is over at the moment.

Has anybody had similar experiences?
Please help x

I felt that way when this happened to me but it was a straight simple process and 10 yearson I've been fine. Good luck to you.I know it's frightening.

Thank you for your reply. May I ask if you had to smears more often after that?

I'm sorry for the delay, I've come down with a cold abbr been asleep!

You answer your question, when i fussy had the colcoscopy i was told smears would be yearly. Then without much explanation i was unturned before the 1st year was out that they would go back to regular, every 3 yrs. This made me really uneasy but I'm just about to have my 3rd one since the whole thing. They've been clear, and I've read that the body can geal from this such that risks reduce anyway. I'm not a doctor though so it will be worth discussing it with them.

I was in your position this time last year. Had the colposcopy and a procedure on the day to cut the cells away. My next smear was clear.

I know all too well how you are feeling and I’m not sure anything I can say will help but I have been there and gone out the other side just fine and it’s incredibly likely you will too. Good luck.

Thank you so much for your replies dudsville and patientzero. I really appreciate them.
I had my colposcopy today and they didn’t find any abnormal cells.
Thank you again for your help.

PS. dudsville, I hope your cold is gone and you feel better.

Hello Winnie12345,

I had dyskarotic cells (grade 2) that were removed via colposcopy around 6 years ago. I think I've heard somewhere that 1 in 3 people have HPV, so although it might sound scary it is very common - and good that you know and you can deal with it in good time.

My colposcopy was a straightforward procedure and I wasn't in there too long at all. I think I had an extra smear a few months after to check they had got all the bad cells and then was put on yearly smears for a couple of years. I also had extra scans during pregnancy just to ensure my cervix was a reasonable length.

I always get apprehensive when it's smear time but touch wood everything has been absolutely fine since.

Good luck xx

Dear Tushkacat, thank you for your response. It does make a big difference when people respond and share their experiences. You made me feel so much better!
All the best to you and Merry Christmas x

I understand what you mean, it's nice to know you're not alone. All the very best and happy Christmas xx

What a relief to have this behind you now!

Dudsville, absolutely! I am still worried about HPV thought. Just hope my body will be able to get rid of the virus.

It’s so common though. I know I felt somehow ashamed and a bit unclean when I found out I had it - that was until a friend described it as being like having a cold in your fanny which was a) hilarious and b) true.

Glad you’ve got the colposcopy over and done with!

I'm 35 and have always had regular normal smears, 5 years ago, a year after my first child was born my smear came back abnormal and I was told I have HPV. Like you, I literally felt like my life came crashing down, the more I googled the worse it got. I was petrified and convinced I had at least 8 of the cancers that they were saying this horrid thing can cause. I cried A LOT. I had a colposcopy, the consultant wasn't at all concerned about my bits or my HPV (WHY WAS SHE NOT FREAKING OUT LIKE ME!!). Fast forward a year my second follow up smear came back all clear (HURRAH!). Fast forward a few more years and last year, once again a year after my second little one was born I once again had an abnormal result. I'm due another follow up in January and hoping that once again things have gone back to normal. I have a couple of friends who have this and they've gone that step further than me and had to have cells removed etc (this is SO common). It's a horrible thing to have to go through at first because it's so new and unknown to you and google just spouts out everything horrific it can think of to further put the shits up us so DON'T GOOGLE!

I promise though, knowledge and time makes this one easier. I just see it as a little monster and I have the power to put it to bed by keeping myself healthy (it goes dormant you see, just like chicken pox). I've been with the same guy for 12 years and I know he's loyal so I would've had this thing is me for well over a decade, it's reared it's head at my lowest points physically and mentally and it's put me on a mission now to be the healthiest version of myself I can be. I gym, have smoothies for breakie and try to keep happy. It's the best we can do, when our immune system is happy this little shit goes to bed and stops causing us problems. Just remember that even when it des cause problems it is SO rare for it to progress into anything scary so just keep getting yourself checked, take your vitamin C and give it the finger, you will be fine and your life is absolutely not over :) xxx

Thank you so much , everybody, for taking the time to write comments. I really appreciate it.

Widget123, thank you for writing for sharing and writing such an encouraging comment. After the colposcopy was done, I started worrying about HPV and that I will get cancer etc You are absolutely right - the more you google the scarier it gets. You’ve described it really well. I will do my best to keep healthy.

Thanks again and have a Merry Christmas everybody x