Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Women's health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Original poster

Colposcopy referral after 3 high risk hpv samples

148 replies

Ilovepugs2017 · 20/02/2023 11:26

Hi,
I’ve just received a letter about my recent smear saying I’ll be referred for a colposcopy procedure.
I have been having yearly smears for the past 3 years due to hpv being found in my sample but no abnormal cells.
Each year it’s shown up as the same thing,
new letter says high risk hpv found in my sample but that cells are normal.
Has anyone had anything similar and what was the outcome? I’m a natural worrier so just looking for some advice from others who have been through similar.

OP posts:
GHxx · 03/04/2023 16:09

@Ilovepugs2017 @Dollmeup how was the biopsy? Was it painful? I don’t find a smear painful, just uncomfortable but I have such a low pain threshold and I’m really dreading having to get one. I don’t know if she’ll bother as mine are high grade anyway but my next colposcopy to keep an eye on it is next month. I’m
pregnant though, hence the delay in treating it but I’m dreading the procedure more than my c-section!

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 16:37

Dollmeup · 03/04/2023 15:56

Same here. I had repeat positive screens then a colposcopy with a punch biopsy I think. Showed some changes so I had a lletz procedure. I didn't find it any more painful than a smear really, it just took longer.

Smear after that came back clear which was a relief!

Great to hear your smear after came back normal. Did you have to wait long for the results from the biopsy? They said it can take around 8-12 weeks, I’m hoping it will be sooner as I do have a tendency to worry!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 16:39

GHxx · 03/04/2023 16:09

@Ilovepugs2017 @Dollmeup how was the biopsy? Was it painful? I don’t find a smear painful, just uncomfortable but I have such a low pain threshold and I’m really dreading having to get one. I don’t know if she’ll bother as mine are high grade anyway but my next colposcopy to keep an eye on it is next month. I’m
pregnant though, hence the delay in treating it but I’m dreading the procedure more than my c-section!

I didn’t actually find the biopsy painful it was just a quick pinch so more uncomfortable than anything. I found the stinging from the vinegar type solution they use to be the worst part. Was your high grade cell changes detected from the colposcopy or the smear? I’m quite shocked that none of the cell changes have been detected on my smears…

OP posts:
WoWsers16 · 03/04/2023 16:43

Hey! Glad it went ok!
I had a colposcopy and at the actual appointment I was told I had cervical cancer :( so the fact your results will take a while will hopefully be a good sign!

I didn't find it uncomfortable when I had it done - my smears had always been clear and this was due to some irregular bleeding I was having xx

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 16:58

WoWsers16 · 03/04/2023 16:43

Hey! Glad it went ok!
I had a colposcopy and at the actual appointment I was told I had cervical cancer :( so the fact your results will take a while will hopefully be a good sign!

I didn't find it uncomfortable when I had it done - my smears had always been clear and this was due to some irregular bleeding I was having xx

Hey.
Sorry to hear that, I didn’t know they could detect it at the colposcopy. Hope your treatment cleared the cancer?
She said there is some changes that the smears haven’t picked up and I must admit I was a bit alarmed when she said she would take a biopsy

I have quite a low pain threshold and was quite nervous so I’m guessing this may have made it more uncomfortable

OP posts:
WoWsers16 · 03/04/2023 18:51

I ended up having a 6 cm tumor! Chemo and radiotherapy and I'm now in remission :) x

Tomkat79 · 03/04/2023 18:52

Hey op, Colposcopy nurse here! Hope tomorrow goes ok. Try and think about our service as purely for the purpose of cervical cancer prevention. When the virus has persisted for 3 years/3 smears always a good idea to get checked. Hopefully biopsies will confirm HPV only and you can be discharged to routine recall :-)

Tomkat79 · 03/04/2023 18:54

Oh sorry was today! Hope you’re ok. Results shouldn’t take too long. Usually 4 weeks so 8-12 a little odd

JlL2013 · 03/04/2023 18:54

@WoWsers16 same here, I was told at biopsy it was cancer.

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 19:05

Tomkat79 · 03/04/2023 18:54

Oh sorry was today! Hope you’re ok. Results shouldn’t take too long. Usually 4 weeks so 8-12 a little odd

I’m in South Wales unless the results are taking a bit longer here?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 19:07

WoWsers16 · 03/04/2023 18:51

I ended up having a 6 cm tumor! Chemo and radiotherapy and I'm now in remission :) x

thats great news that your now in remission. Must have been such a worrying time for you x

OP posts:
Tomkat79 · 03/04/2023 19:12

Ah ok maybe it’s different in wales. Hope they come through asap. I know it’s not easy but try not to worry.

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 19:15

Tomkat79 · 03/04/2023 19:12

Ah ok maybe it’s different in wales. Hope they come through asap. I know it’s not easy but try not to worry.

Thanks so much, I hope so too

OP posts:
WhatHaveIDone21 · 03/04/2023 19:27

I had HPV detected for years. Had a colposcopy a couple of times - the last one last year. Ended up having a biopsy and then cells removed (CIN 1). Went to my 6 month check up and ended up needing another colposcopy. Was sent to a consultant because it was so close to the treatment but they couldn't see anything and have put me back to 3 yearly smears.

They reassured me that it can take up to 10 years to develop so even if I'm back to 3 yearly smears it should still pick anything up. They also said more and more people are finding that it takes years to clear the HPV so not necessarily the norm for it to be gone within 2 years.

banjaxxed · 03/04/2023 19:56

I'm going for colposcopy tomorrow too OP after 3 HPV positives Confused

GHxx · 03/04/2023 20:23

@Ilovepugs2017 thats good it wasn’t too bad.. the high grade changes were detected from my smear but the letter I got just told me to go to the appointment so I found out there that it was high grade. I’ve only had one colposcopy so far and she just put the vinegar on and had a look but said she wouldn’t do a biopsy that time since I was pregnant but may do one at the next appointment

GHxx · 03/04/2023 20:28

@WoWsers16 sorry to hear it was cancer but glad to see your treatment went well! Did they do the biopsy, send it away to be tested and then tell you it was cancer or tell you just by looking at the first colposcopy? I’ve had one colposcopy and I’m pregnant so having to wait until probably the end of the year to have it treated but she looked at the last appointment and confirmed from my smear result that it was high grade and she could see the dodgy cells by looking. Is there potential they could already be cancer and she can’t tell just by looking? I hate the fact that I need to wait to have it treated.

hope you’re well now

WoWsers16 · 03/04/2023 20:31

GHxx · 03/04/2023 20:28

@WoWsers16 sorry to hear it was cancer but glad to see your treatment went well! Did they do the biopsy, send it away to be tested and then tell you it was cancer or tell you just by looking at the first colposcopy? I’ve had one colposcopy and I’m pregnant so having to wait until probably the end of the year to have it treated but she looked at the last appointment and confirmed from my smear result that it was high grade and she could see the dodgy cells by looking. Is there potential they could already be cancer and she can’t tell just by looking? I hate the fact that I need to wait to have it treated.

hope you’re well now

They could see the cancer so told me. I still had the biopsy- results came back in 4 days so then within a week I had had loads of scans etc...

I have always had clear smears and I also had clear internal and external ultra sounds 2 weeks before!

Crazy times xxx

GHxx · 03/04/2023 21:35

@WoWsers16 very scary! It’s good we have these checks though to be able to get these things sorted early but it’s just worrying. I’m hoping that’s a good sign that she’s looked and didn’t say it was cancer there and then. I have 5/6 months after this check next month where it’s not going to be checked while I have the baby and recover then go back.. just hoping it hasn’t managed to get worse in that time

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 22:00

banjaxxed · 03/04/2023 19:56

I'm going for colposcopy tomorrow too OP after 3 HPV positives Confused

Sorry to hear you have to have a colposcopy too & hope it goes ok for you. From what I’ve read before most people who have hpv and no cell changes the same is usually seen at the colposcopy. For some reason my cell changes have been missed in my last 3 smears

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 22:01

GHxx · 03/04/2023 21:35

@WoWsers16 very scary! It’s good we have these checks though to be able to get these things sorted early but it’s just worrying. I’m hoping that’s a good sign that she’s looked and didn’t say it was cancer there and then. I have 5/6 months after this check next month where it’s not going to be checked while I have the baby and recover then go back.. just hoping it hasn’t managed to get worse in that time

I’m sure I read somewhere that it takes a long time to develop into cancer even if you have pre cancerous cells so they remove them just to be extra cautious before they have the chance to develop further. Must be so frustrating for you not being able to have the procedure at present 💐

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 03/04/2023 22:04

GHxx · 03/04/2023 20:23

@Ilovepugs2017 thats good it wasn’t too bad.. the high grade changes were detected from my smear but the letter I got just told me to go to the appointment so I found out there that it was high grade. I’ve only had one colposcopy so far and she just put the vinegar on and had a look but said she wouldn’t do a biopsy that time since I was pregnant but may do one at the next appointment

I thought a biopsy was done to see what type of changes there were? Ie the level of change … though maybe I’ve got mixed up somewhere, read so much about this. They didn’t tell me today what grade my cells were but just that there were some changes

OP posts:
GHxx · 03/04/2023 23:01

@Ilovepugs2017 i think that is right.. maybe they just get a better idea from a biopsy, or my smear was just a good one that they managed to get enough to see what grade they were. She didn’t actually tell me outright I don’t think but I’d read a lot about grades on here before I went then I realised that the letter was extremely speedy in coming through with an appointment for 2 days later so I did start to wonder. Then at the appointment I went in for a chat with her first and she had my name and smear dates up on the screen, they all had normal beside them apart from my last one which had cell changes in one column and high grade and another big long word in the last column so I didn’t ask or get her to explain but I said I’m guessing that’s why I got the appointment so quick then and she said yeah basically

Dollmeup · 04/04/2023 12:22

I think my biopsy took about 6-8 weeks to come back. It very much depends on the waiting lists in your area though. Biopsy was a little sting for a second but didn't feel anything after that.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 04/04/2023 18:26

I had one for abnormal cells one time and it was fine

Swipe left for the next trending thread