Have I got this right regarding HPV and smears?

[Redgreencoverplant]

So just had my smear results letter through. It states that I had a HPV negative test and so they have not bothered to check my sample for abnormal cells and they will recall me in 3 years.

The NHS only offer HPV testing through a smear test but it is available privately as a urine test through the post. If the NHS are only going to check cells if HPV positive surely I can just do the urine test every 3 years and only have a smear if that comes back positive?

Is that right? And why aren't the NHS using urine testing for HPV? I'm sure most women would prefer that!

That’s my worry @FlamingJuno

Is it perhaps the case that if the infection has cleared then the cells will have returned to normal?

Perhaps it's like childhood illnesses, you have had mumps and therefore there are markers possibly in your system but you don't have the disease?

I know that I always test positive for TB despite never having had it because I had a BCG vaccination when I was a child. That was fun with obtaining a USA visa!!

but there wouldn't necessarily need to be a second appointment - dropping off a urine sample doesn't need an appointment. Gettingrid of smear test appointments for women who don't need them would mean that those that do - following a positive HPV test - would be able to be seen far quicker