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Women's health

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Original poster

Does this mean I do not have HPV

13 replies

yarncakes · 18/10/2020 21:08

In 2017 my smear came back with no abnormal cells, does this mean I haven't got hpv? Or does it mean that they didn't check for hpv despite having no abnormal cells. I read they only check for hpv if cells are abnormal. I had a smear this month but no results yet. I've been with my husband for 10 years so no chance of getting hpv from anywhere else if I haven't got it now.

OP posts:

KingaRoo · 18/10/2020 21:10

I think its the other way around. They test for HPV and only if its positive do they test for abnormal cells.

BuffaloCauliflower · 18/10/2020 21:12

HPV can come and go. I’ve tested positive in the past (and had cell changes and a colposcopy to go with it) I have yearly smears now, and last year they only checked for HPV and I didn’t have it then. It can go dormant for long periods. Now they usually do an HPV test and only investigate further if positive

Comps83 · 19/10/2020 03:32

I had cells removed 10 years ago so must have had hpv then
Last 2 smears hpv negative , this one hpv positive . Pretty sure dh hasn't cheated and I certainly haven't . Check out my recent thread about boosting immunity when hpv+ there were a few of us in long term relationships who have had both negative and positive results .

Comps83 · 19/10/2020 03:36

Also I haven't read any studies to prove it just noticed that a lot us tested positive after having a baby . Not sure if pregnancy weakens the immune system or just a massive coincidence

Superscientist · 20/10/2020 12:01

It depends on your area. I had a smear on 2016 and they automatically screened for abnormal cells. I had my next on in 2019 in a different area and they tested my sample for hpv before deciding to screen the cells.

I think now nearly every area prescreens for hpv but a few years ago it was still being rolled out so it was more variable.

Marylegs · 20/10/2020 12:16

Yes I think its a recent cost-saving move by the NHS.

WoWsers16 · 25/10/2020 07:23

And it's a terrible cost saving idea as 3% of cervical cancer does not involve the HPV virus- so my cervical cancer would not have been picked up during a smear as I'm HPV negative :( luckily I was able to get diagnosed but scares me what would of happened if I hadn't of got checked out x

Fittata · 25/10/2020 21:35

This scares me too. Did you have symptoms?

Ilovecheese53 · 25/10/2020 21:39

@Fittata

This scares me too. Did you have symptoms?

Generally you wouldn’t be able to tell you have HPV. The main concern is that it can change your cells and lead to cervical cancer.

There’s a lot of misunderstanding about HPV and bad info mainly from the nurses! There some good threads on here talking about it.

Cherrypicker85 · 25/10/2020 21:51

My smears have always come back clear for HPV. My colposcopy, recommended by a private doctor, revealed abnormal cells in the cervix. I have been checking in with him every six months for the last 10 years to keep on top of it. In the meantime, my NHS smears come back clear and the letters always say 'ok see you in 3 years bye'. Really scary IMO.

WoWsers16 · 26/10/2020 06:50

The symptoms I had were blood clots when not on period and bleeding after sex twice- that's it! Bang stage 2 cervical cancer- and my smear would not of picked it up as HPV negative- it would have said everything is fine and my cancer would of probably grown. Scary! Week 4 of chemotherapy starts today!

zaffa · 26/10/2020 07:26

@Comps83

Also I haven't read any studies to prove it just noticed that a lot us tested positive after having a baby . Not sure if pregnancy weakens the immune system or just a massive coincidence

At my last smear (where I tested positive for HPV with no cell changes) I was told that birth can agitate the cells in your cervix and can show up as changes on your smear for about 3 months (I was overdue my smear as I fell pregnant as it was due and so was keen to get it done ASAP after birth). I hadn't tested positive before as prior to this they only checked for cell changes but I was young and stupid and didn't go for my first smear test until I was over 30. I can't even explain why, it's so stupid to think about now but at least I've now had three 'no changes' but it's clear I picked up the virus somewhere along the way.

My smear earlier this year came back as an inadequate sample but positive for HPV so I had to wait three awful months for a second one, and I had just started on the pill so had some breakthrough bleeding and a number of times my period started right after sex so I was terrified for three months that I had cervical cancer (I tried to get referred for a colposcopy but covid made things more tricky). I think I did all the reading about it in those three months! Funnily the 'period every two weeks' settled down around the time I had my repeat smear!

I do know that pregnancy lowers your immune system temporarily so maybe that's what causes a flair up?

Fittata · 26/10/2020 13:52

Hmm, wonder if its worth paying for a private smear every three years where they will at least look for abnormal cells.

I have had regular smears since 18 and never tested positive for HPV and have been married for 15 years so not sure it is worth me getting an HPV check every three years if they're not even going to look for abnormal cells.

I also find it annoying that the NHS puts so many women through the trauma and discomfort of a smear when they don't even look at the most of the cells they collect. As I understand it you can do a simple vaginal swab for HPV so no need for speculum etc.

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