Smear tests/HPV tests

[Dilbertian]

When did smear tests become HPV tests?

I'm wondering whether, if my last smear test was an HPV test, I ever need to go through the misery of another smear.

If they test for HPV, they'll need to keep testing unless you have the vaccine.

Have you? Most British females under the aged of about 30 would have had the vaccine at school.

Maybe a couple of years….HPV can be dormant for several years before it “appears”

HPV can come and go.
My last one in jan was neg.
the one before (jan 2021) was +

You still need to get routine tested.

Mid 50s, so not vaxed. I have had one partner for the last 25y, and I have no reason to doubt that he has also been monogamous.

@Dilbertian

Mid 50s, so not vaxed. I have had one partner for the last 25y, and I have no reason to doubt that he has also been monogamous.

This is only relevant if you were both virgins at when you got together

I think the tests moved to HPV primary in 2019. PPs are correct that it can lay dormant for many years, but these days you can buy self-test kits which are nothing like as bad as smears (£48 from Superdrug, so not cheap).

Ugh. I've been called for a smear, so last one was probably before 2018.

The Inside Health podcast explained it all really well: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0014wvk

@MintJulia I've seen a few people on mn say they have tested positive for hpv even after the vaccine

I've also seen posts from women married 20-30 years test positive @Dilbertian for

I’ve been HPV positive for the past 2yrs. I have to get tested again next year and if that’s positive then I get referred to the hospital for investigation as to why my body isn’t clearing it apparently.

Just arrange regular HPV tests.

There is zero clinical reason to insert a speculum inside you simply to test for HPV.

They don’t test the sample unless your are HPV positive, no way am I going through another smear test when my sample ends up in the bin, I will just buy an HPV test from Superdrug and test myself.

I got a positive HPV last year after 15 years with the same partner (neither of us were virgins when we got together). I had another positive this year and have been for a colposcopy too....which was no where near as uncomfortable a process as a smear - they didn't rake a biopsy as the cells looked ok. I will have another smear next year to see what is going on then. I have never been told about HPV before and am suprised it showed up.....but apparently that's what happens.

For people that have been vaccinated it is different. I haven't been vaccinated as am older than the programme to do this on schools. - which don't forget vaccinated boys and girls now.