Hpv and low grade dyskariosis

[thinkingit]

Just wondered if anyone had any advice or any stories if they've had the same

A year ago I went for a smear (I've had abnormal cells before but they cleared) and the results came back that I had hpv but no cell change. To retest in a year

I've been for my retest a year later and had the results through last week

I still have hpv but now cells have changed and I have low grade dyskariosis

I've had an appointment made for me for a colposcopy

I've read about what they do in the colposcopy, but if I've had hpv for this long and my body hasn't got rid of it what will happen?

I've tried to contact the department I have the appointment with but just constantly rings now answer

Just anyone's experience of this would really help

Thankyou!

Hi I’m a GP. Once you have HPV it doesn’t usually go away and can hang around in your system for decades. But that’s ok as long as it’s not causing cell changes. If your smear is now showing low grade dyskaryosis (also known as CIN1), they will have a really good look at your cervix at colposcopy with what is called aceto white staining. If they feel that your cervix “matches” with the CIN1 changes they might just keep you under close observation. If they think the cervix looks like there are worse changes than how the smear looks (as it’s just a sample after all) they may try to take a biopsy (a bit of tissue) from the abnormal looking area with a loop biopsy (also known as LLETZ). Depending what the biopsy shows they may have to do more treatment or the biopsy itself is sometimes enough to remove all the abnormal cells in which case they may keep an eye on you or ask your GP to keep an eye on you with more regular smears.

@Mygardenisnotperfect
Thankyou so much
I'd never thought about that way how it's only a sample and not the bigger picture
I'm just so worried

With HPV and low-grade cell changes last year, I was referred to colposcopy where a biopsy was taken. It showed Cin1.
Circumstances point to the HPV infection being longstanding and it was impossible for me to have been infected within the last 4years however despite my pleading for something to be done before Cin progressed I was told to go away and return in 1 year to my GP for a smear. Basically a 'watch and wait' approach.
I believe that if there is still evidence of infection after 2years then treatment is usually offered (I may be wrong) however I think the process is completely flawed and also misses people like myself whose infection is chronic and who's sample wasn't tested for hpv back in 2017 and before due to different testing techniques.

I ended up seeing a private gynaecologist and having loop excision as I felt watching and waiting another year was ludicrous.

I hope this makes sense.

@Spied thankyou, what treatment do they do if the hpv doesn't go away do you know? Google isn't really answering my questions. I know last year is different as I only had the hpv now I have to cell change to cin1 too

Hi OP,

I live in Northern Ireland so the process might be slightly different to where you are. I too have persistent HPV which has been present at all my smears since age 25 (now 33). My last smear (April 2020) showed level 1 cell changes so I was referred for colposcopy which took place in September, and the biopsy showed the same - level 1 changes, so there isn’t any treatment at this stage and I have a follow up appointment booked for this September coming.
It is really worrying, but my understanding is that sometimes low level changes can resolve themselves, so a ‘wait and see’ can be appropriate. One of my very good friends has just had a follow up for grade one changes, and was given the all clear.
In the meantime, I’m doing everything I can to boost my immune system. There is anecdotal evidence for the effectiveness of mushroom extracts to specifically combat hpv. Take care and try not to worry (easier said than done I know) x

@thinkingit
Problem is there is no cure for HPV.
They can remove the cells that the HPV virus has caused to be abnormal - cryopathy, loop. However there is no guarantee the cells won't grow back abnormal while the infection is in your body.
There is nothing that can clear the virus apart from your own immune system.

I'm hoping after my loop the cells have grown back normal. Getting the cells removed felt such a relief and it does feel like your body gets a second chance to renew the cells even though there's no guarantee.

Short answer OP.

They don't try to get rid of the HPV no matter how long you've had it as there's no way they can.
The NHS will treat the problem it causes- the Cin- but usually only once it is classed as severe Cin 2+

To give a positive story regarding hpv I had cin3 cells and hpv. Had the cin 3 cells removed via loop. At my 6 month check up they'd returned at borderline cin1. Awful I thought it's the Hpv but was told to wait 1 year come back and they'd see what was going on. I went back a year later and the cells had all returned to normal so was discharged back to the normal gp led 3 yearly smear system.
inthink our body can revert either by fighting off hpv or if it stays it can be in your body with no abnormalities. I'm due my routine smear probably this year and touch wood it's still all fine as I've not had a return of the symptoms I had when I had cin3 cells. So it's not a case of index you have then that's it forever xx

@Whataboutye88

Hi OP,

I live in Northern Ireland so the process might be slightly different to where you are. I too have persistent HPV which has been present at all my smears since age 25 (now 33). My last smear (April 2020) showed level 1 cell changes so I was referred for colposcopy which took place in September, and the biopsy showed the same - level 1 changes, so there isn’t any treatment at this stage and I have a follow up appointment booked for this September coming.
It is really worrying, but my understanding is that sometimes low level changes can resolve themselves, so a ‘wait and see’ can be appropriate. One of my very good friends has just had a follow up for grade one changes, and was given the all clear.
In the meantime, I’m doing everything I can to boost my immune system. There is anecdotal evidence for the effectiveness of mushroom extracts to specifically combat hpv. Take care and try not to worry (easier said than done I know) x

Yes I read about that. The shittake mushroom I believe? It contains a compound called ahcc I believe it's called that has been proven to help rid the body of hvp

@Spied sorry you went through this. Just to offer another side to not rushing to treatment - LLETZ is one of the things asked about when you get pregnant, as it is not guaranteed that the cells will regenerate in the correct manner, and can predispose women to “insufficient cervix” which causes late miscarriage/preterm birth. There is also risk of infection with any procedure like this.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t have seen your private specialist, but just offering a bit of balance as to why the NHS don’t just jump in and start chopping bits out immediately.

Thankyou all
It's just so worrying.
I did expect to go back and the hpv had cleared or at the least, my cells hadn't changed. I had a shock when I opened the letter. I have cervical cancer history in the family. But on a positive note this has been discovered because anything really sinister had developed

*before

Please don't be worried! Well, try not to be :)
I was treated for CIN3 with LLETZ, the process was exactly as @Mygardenisnotperfect explained. 10 years on, my body has cleared the HPV and didn't need any more treatment. But I was monitored regularly. This is all preventative OP, and they will keep a real close eye on you as long as you have HPV. There's no cure for the virus, but the monitoring is there to make sure that cell changes don't turn sinister and they can remove them if necessary as soon as needed.

@PearsandPartridge that's really reassuring thank you so much