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Original poster

Possible cervical ectropion- referred to colposcopy

25 replies

Lilbitconfused · 31/01/2023 22:11

Hello

very worried at the moment

pls Anyone had any similar experiences?

Been feeling a bit crampy , lower back pain and just clear discharge for 3 weeks.No bleeding apart from periods ( not sexually active at the moment)

Checked my cervix randomly and felt some bumps

I then went to the sexual health clinic just to check for BV , or any other tests as it’s been a long time I have done this

Dr then opens my cervix and said she couldn’t see anything. I said I’m sure I felt something,she then gets a bigger speculum and said she could see what’s a cervical ectropion but would still refer me to colposcopy

I’m freaking out. I asked why she’s referring me when she’s says it’s an ectropion.she said she just wants to make sure

I had my smear in Oct last year which was ok. Anyone had any similar experiences or has anyone been told it’s ectropion and it turned out to be sinister?

Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 01/02/2023 07:58

Bump

OP posts:
hillornot · 01/02/2023 15:08

Hi OP,

I have my colposcopy coming up in a few weeks for a suspected ectropion too. My symptoms were slightly different to yours, I had 2 instances of very light spotting outside of my period which is what prompted me to go to the GP. She had a look and said she thinks it's an ectropion but it's standard procedure to refer for a colposcopy with these symptoms and just to be certain. Since then I haven't had any more spotting but I do have quite a bit of white discharge.

I was referred non urgently and they can do a 2 week referral if they are especially worried so that's what's reassuring me slightly.

It's so hard but try not to worry because your last smear was so recent it's so unlikely that anything would have changed in that time, plus HPV takes on average 8-10 years to become cancerous. That is why smears are offered every 3 years because it's more than enough time to catch anything. I am only turning 24 this month so I've never had a smear which is making me even more anxious but I have to remember that's for good reason and that anything sinister is extremely rare in my age group.

Best of luck OP and feel free to message me if you feel anxious anytime x

fairgame84 · 01/02/2023 15:15

I had an ectropion and was referred for a colposcopy. My symptoms were bleeding inbetween periods.
GP said it's standard to refer for colposcopy even through ectropions are harmless.
I had the colposcopy with a punch biopsy and everything was fine.
That was in 2021. The ectropion hasn't bothered me much since and didn't cause any problems in my pregnancy last year.

Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 01/02/2023 15:37

Thank you very much that’s very reassuring . I think she said she was also referring me non-urgently but just doing so cos it’s standard procedure

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 01/02/2023 15:38

Thank you very much

OP posts:
pigpinkstockings · 01/02/2023 17:46

I had that, told ectropion was healthy and harmless.

Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 01/02/2023 17:54

Thank you. Feeling a bit relieved

OP posts:
cantdecideforanother · 01/02/2023 19:44

I got told I had ectopian when I had my smear but have no symptoms what so ever. Nurse told me it was harmless and as
Smear came back normal I've never had any follow up. Now I'm a bit worried thinking should I have been referred.

DewinDwl · 01/02/2023 19:48

I had an ectropion and was referred for a colposcopy. My symptoms were bleeding inbetween periods.
Same here. Colposcopy came back all clear, as have all my smears since.

Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 02/02/2023 09:21

Now I’ve been called to come in tomorrow and was told it was referred to as urgent 😒. Now my anxiety is through the roof

dr told me it was referred to as non-urgent . I’m scared silly now

OP posts:
snowflake29 · 02/02/2023 09:26

Gosh it's always worrying to be told something medical is urgent but try to reframe your thinking and be glad you didn't have to wait an worry for a long time?

For what it's worth, a GP commented that I had a cervical ectropian during a smear when I went for lots of spotting between periods. She said it was very normal and never turns into something sinister and it would only be treated of it was causing lots of frequent bleeding. They can also clear up themselves apparently. My bleeding and ectropian was caused by the pill, never had any more issues once I came off it.

ftbuyer · 02/02/2023 09:27

cantdecideforanother · 01/02/2023 19:44

I got told I had ectopian when I had my smear but have no symptoms what so ever. Nurse told me it was harmless and as
Smear came back normal I've never had any follow up. Now I'm a bit worried thinking should I have been referred.

Hi- yes you should have been.
Smear test is a screening test for those with no signs/symptoms.
Anyone with a potentially concerning clinical finding should be referred outside of the screening. Anything dodgey on the cervix warrants a specialist review.(Probably absolutely fine though and the normal smear is still reassuring).

OP - I had post coital bleeding and saw a GP who visualised what she thought was an ectropian. Still referred me via the 2ww and had biopsies done - all fine. Had to cauterised to stop the bleeding and all good 7 years later.

ftbuyer · 02/02/2023 09:33

Just to clarify for a couple of posters who might have been given incorrect information- below is extracts from NICE guidelines. Don't be alarmed by 'suspected cancer', I think it's something like 98% of 2ww referrals end up NOT being cancer.

But anything dodgey visualised on a cervix needs a 2ww referral to confirm it's nothing nasty.

•	A diagnosis of cervical cancer should be suspected if a woman has:
◦	Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge which is not secondary to infection or other
◦	An abnormal appearance of the cervix on examination.
•	If a woman has suspected cervical cancer:
◦	An urgent referral to colposcopy/gynaecology oncology (using a 2-week cancer pathway) should be arranged
cantdecideforanother · 02/02/2023 12:50

@ftbuyer

Do you think I should have been referred for colposcopy even though the ectopian was picked up at smear and I have no symptoms? This was a couple of years ago and I still have no symptoms

ftbuyer · 02/02/2023 15:40

cantdecideforanother · 02/02/2023 12:50

@ftbuyer

Do you think I should have been referred for colposcopy even though the ectopian was picked up at smear and I have no symptoms? This was a couple of years ago and I still have no symptoms

I would say it falls under 'abnormal appearance of cervix' as above so yes. A nurse with a speculum (or anyone with a speculum!) can't examine the cells to confirm it's actually an ectropian and nothing else's

Orangesandlemons77 · 02/02/2023 17:33

I was told I had this over 10 years ago but nothing other than that. Smears always ok.

Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 02/02/2023 19:44

Can’t wait for this to be over honestly. I wish she was very sure it was ectropion and just told me to run along but My appt is 10am tomorrow. I’ll update

OP posts:
cantdecideforanother · 02/02/2023 20:38

Lilbitconfused · 02/02/2023 19:44

Can’t wait for this to be over honestly. I wish she was very sure it was ectropion and just told me to run along but My appt is 10am tomorrow. I’ll update

I hope it all goes well tomorrow.

I know from a previous thread that lots of people do have cervical ectopian and all is okay. I remember my friend having it years ago and she had a minor op, can't remember exactly what it was but that was over 10 years ago x

WoWsers16 · 02/02/2023 20:46

Hey! Hope it goes well for you- I think they're being really good getting you in asap - I've also been through it saying it was an ectropion I needed. Unfortunately my appointment didn't end great.

Just to say to everyone smears only test for HPV now not cancer - so if you have any irregular issues get them checked out asap - all my smears had been clear (and I never missed one)

Hope it goes well tomorrow xxx

Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 02/02/2023 22:32

WoWsers16 · 02/02/2023 20:46

Hey! Hope it goes well for you- I think they're being really good getting you in asap - I've also been through it saying it was an ectropion I needed. Unfortunately my appointment didn't end great.

Just to say to everyone smears only test for HPV now not cancer - so if you have any irregular issues get them checked out asap - all my smears had been clear (and I never missed one)

Hope it goes well tomorrow xxx

Really? You were told it’s an ectropion and it wasn’t in the end ?

were you having any symptoms?

OP posts:
WoWsers16 · 02/02/2023 22:37

Yes I got told that and it wasn't unfortunately- I was having irregular bleeding and discharge. Massive shock - I'm in remission now though but it's so good you're getting checked xx

Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 02/02/2023 22:41

WoWsers16 · 02/02/2023 22:37

Yes I got told that and it wasn't unfortunately- I was having irregular bleeding and discharge. Massive shock - I'm in remission now though but it's so good you're getting checked xx

Really sorry to hear that .good to know you in remission 💐💐

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilbitconfused · 03/02/2023 10:41

Thank God ! He said he couldn’t see anything at all. He’s not sure what the Dr saw . He put some vinegar and iodine on just to be absolutely sure but he didn’t see anything

he said maybe it’s a nabothian follicle that has burst

happy this is all over

OP posts:
fairgame84 · 03/02/2023 10:46

Great news and such a relief for you x

ftbuyer · 03/02/2023 14:43

Lilbitconfused · 03/02/2023 10:41

Thank God ! He said he couldn’t see anything at all. He’s not sure what the Dr saw . He put some vinegar and iodine on just to be absolutely sure but he didn’t see anything

he said maybe it’s a nabothian follicle that has burst

happy this is all over

I've also had a nabothian too, so sounds possible.

Great news OP

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