Don’t understand smear testing

[Smearywindowsagain]

Can someone please explain how smear testing works?
I’ve always gone for regular smears. I actually started early and had my first at 21. Recently I’ve realised that they now only test for HPV and not cancerous cells. How does this work though? I thought that HPV was something that can come and go because it’s a virus. Isn’t it possible that you could have had HPV, it caused changes in cells but the virus itself clears and you’re left with the cell changes which aren't picked up because they only test for HPV. Am I being thick here?

This is the reason just declined follow up screening. It's invasive and unpleasant but I always went, but I'm HPV negative, confirmed last time, and I've been with DH for 18 years, so said there's nothing to gain from continued screening until the policy changes again.

I have told DH and warned him if he dips his wick elsewhere I'll need to know asap though.

Does diazepam work? My nurse couldn't even complete mine last time..

Thanks to all for comments and advice above. I think it is still a pap smear in Ireland..

@endoflevelbaddy is that wise though? Even if you were negative for HPV last time you went, doesn’t mean it can’t surface even if you haven’t changed sexual partners.

It's really easy. No different to inserting a tampon. It's not like performing a smear test on yourself, you just swab inside your vagina. I've done it and intend to do it again. If you don't do it properly it will come back inconclusive, but that's really unlikely, as it is so straightforward.

@Smearywindowsagain if it's still not surfaced after 18 years it's not going to now. Even without symptoms, the screening would detect the virus if I had it, so it's only sexual contact with a 3rd party now that's introducing the virus.

My last 2 smears have been extremely painful and given I am HPV negative and been in a monogamous relationship for over 20 years I’m not having any more (I got absolutely slated for saying this on another thread about smear testing).
I am happy with a vaginal swab though, so if they change things I’ll go back. Am happy to pay for a private HPV home test instead.

a@CasparBloomberg There are anomalies in the system that are completely mad IMO.

Three years ago I had a borderline smear and HPV negative result so can't get a retest. It makes no sense whatsoever - either test for HPV only (in which case I wouldn't have known about it) or allow women in this position to have a retest if they want. But giving you the worrying result and refusing to put your mind at rest is wrong, plain and simple!

Since then I've had several instances of post menopausal bleeding which have required a lot of expensive tests to keep ruling out endometrial cancer but a cheap and cheerful retest to rule out cervical cancer is apparently banned!

Sorry that you've been affected by the same nonsense.

I’ve posted numerous times on various threads about finding smears incredibly painful/virtually impossible. I’ve finally found the courage to book my smear test this week. The part I’m most worried about is the fact it will probably be extremely painful and she might not be able to complete it. I wish I could just go, have it done and not think about it for another 3 years 😞

Can results be wrong? I've been celibate for nearly 30 years, only slept with one partner, albeit for 15 years, although it turns out he slept with many, and I am high risk hpv positive but with no cell changes. I have to have another smear in a year after going for what I thought would be my last one ever. I am utterly baffled!

I'm not happy about the changes either but they do a proper smear if things don't look right. The upside of getting the doctor to do it is that they will then be able to do a visual check on whether they see anything with your cervix.

Please get checked even if you're a 50 year old virgin. Like some other posters here, I figured it's something I'd never have to worry about. I've only had sex with my husband and him only with me. The doctor found a polyp on my cervix during my last smear. It was removed and all is well, but I'm glad it was removed. Polyps are not that uncommon and can turn cancerous. An exclusive sexual history with one person isn't a guarantee.

@PupInAPram I think you've probably had this virus for a long time. The changes to testing for HPV are relatively recent (my last smear was this style 3 years ago), so your past smears would likely have been looking for abnormal cells and not testing you for the virus, so wouldn't have detected anything if there were no changes.

Now you're positive your smears will be looked at for changes so absolutely important to keep up with the screening. And if I had any suspicions about DH I'd be taking up the screening again, or indeed if I had a new partner. I'm not recommending anyone passes it up, just that things have changed and if you're HPV negative and not sexually active, it may not actually be very useful.

What you have to remember is that actually cervical cancer is RARE
Your lifetime risk is just 0.65% according to CRUK
Thats 99% chance of never having the cancer
Very few high risk HPV cases go on to full blown cancer
and even severe cell changes revert to normal by themselves, they just don’t know which so that’s why everyone seems to be offered treatment
Ive weighed it all up and I happily decline smears and have opted out of the programme. My vagina, my choice