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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:
Bex4567 · 10/04/2023 22:00

Hi
I'm anxious I go back in July now for my 6 month smear and colposcopy ...my last 2 smears have come back as high grade moderate/servere but my biospys have come back cin1 ,cin 2 ..im worried something has been missed 😕 worried its going to come back again

OneHitWonder40 · 10/04/2023 22:54

I had a calposcopy and a biopsy 3 weeks ago. I’d had 3 positive HPV results but unfortunately my last smear in February showed changes to my cells so was called in for an urgent calposcopy.

when I got my follow up letter, apparently I was HPV 18 positive which is the most severe apparently.

im still waiting on the results of my biopsy and the follow up plan 😔

Bex4567 · 10/04/2023 23:00

What was your smear results if you don't mind me asking?.I only ask as they did my treatment there and then as I was high grade servere but then my biopsy only came back as cin 1 ,2

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 11/04/2023 00:04

OneHitWonder40 · 10/04/2023 22:54

I had a calposcopy and a biopsy 3 weeks ago. I’d had 3 positive HPV results but unfortunately my last smear in February showed changes to my cells so was called in for an urgent calposcopy.

when I got my follow up letter, apparently I was HPV 18 positive which is the most severe apparently.

im still waiting on the results of my biopsy and the follow up plan 😔

Hi 👋
sorry to hear you’ve had hpv positive 3 times too & changes to your cells.
My letter didn’t tell me which strain of hpv I have.
How long do you have to wait for your results? They told me around 8-12 weeks so it’s gonna be a long wait. Though I’m in South Wales so perhaps it’s different where you are?

Did they say anything at all about the cell changes at the colposcopy? My cell changes wernt detected at all by the smear it was only when I went for the colposcopy they could see changes, she did a punch biopsy of one area

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 11/04/2023 00:05

Bex4567 · 10/04/2023 22:00

Hi
I'm anxious I go back in July now for my 6 month smear and colposcopy ...my last 2 smears have come back as high grade moderate/servere but my biospys have come back cin1 ,cin 2 ..im worried something has been missed 😕 worried its going to come back again

Hiya.

Sorry to hear you’ve had cell changes too. From what I understand the biopsy is more accurate than the smear? So maybe they’re just keeping an eye on the cell changes now as perhaps they don’t need treatment yet unless they progress any further? X

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 11/04/2023 00:08

Bex4567 · 10/04/2023 23:00

What was your smear results if you don't mind me asking?.I only ask as they did my treatment there and then as I was high grade servere but then my biopsy only came back as cin 1 ,2

Sorry only just seen this message and had assumed from your earlier message that you hadn’t had treatment yet. I’m thinking maybe it differs depending on the country/area your in as to whether you have treatment straight away or after biopsy results?
My last three smears showed as HPV positive but no cell changes. I was referred to colposcopy as the HPV wasn’t clearing and it was there that they seen the cell changes and took a biopsy so I’m now waiting on the results of that

OP posts:
OneHitWonder40 · 20/04/2023 12:46

@Ilovepugs2017 have you had your results yet?

I got a phone call today from Calposcopy dept saying they have my results and I’ve got to go in and see them where they will discuss my results. I’m in on Tuesday. Not sure if i should be worried 😔

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 20/04/2023 12:48

OneHitWonder40 · 20/04/2023 12:46

@Ilovepugs2017 have you had your results yet?

I got a phone call today from Calposcopy dept saying they have my results and I’ve got to go in and see them where they will discuss my results. I’m in on Tuesday. Not sure if i should be worried 😔

I bet that’s gonna be an anxious wait until Tuesday! I hate it when they do stuff like that cause it automatically makes you worry more doesn’t it? No sign of my results yet but they did say it can take 8-12 weeks 😬

OP posts:
GHxx · 20/04/2023 21:55

@OneHitWonder40 that must be such a worry but I’d imagine they would do that whatever the results were so try not to panic too much. Annoying you can’t just go in that day though. Keep us updated. Just think whatever it is, at least you’ve been and had it seen at this stage and will be able to deal with it if it’s anything needing treated x

bobisbored · 27/04/2023 13:43

@OneHitWonder40
How did it go? Hope you're ok.

OneHitWonder40 · 28/04/2023 09:29

bobisbored · 27/04/2023 13:43

@OneHitWonder40
How did it go? Hope you're ok.

Unfortunately it’s cervical cancer. But they think it’s early stages luckily 😔

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 29/04/2023 01:30

OneHitWonder40 · 28/04/2023 09:29

Unfortunately it’s cervical cancer. But they think it’s early stages luckily 😔

Show quote history

I’m so sorry to hear this 💐
Luckily they have caught it in the early stages though - have they said what the plan is going forward? Still awaiting my results it’s been about 4 weeks coming up since my biopsy but here if you want to talk X

OP posts:
JlL2013 · 29/04/2023 12:03

@OneHitWonder40 come and joking us in the Cancer support thread in general health, there are a few Cervical cancer ladies, myself included.

GHxx · 29/04/2023 12:29

@OneHitWonder40 oh jeez that must have been hard to hear. Fingers crossed you can get treatment sorted soon and put all this behind you 🤞🏼 Have they said what the plan is yet?

bobisbored · 30/04/2023 09:41

@OneHitWonder40 I'm so sorry to hear that. Do you know your next steps?
I had my biopsy on Tuesday so I'm waiting now.

GHxx · 30/04/2023 10:02

@bobisbored how was the biopsy if you don’t mind me asking? I’m so scared it’s going to be sore and il jump off the bed! I’m pregnant but have my next colposcopy check up in 2 weeks, she said last time she wouldn’t do the biopsy but might the next time so half dreading it but also half wanting it done so I can see what it is without just leaving it for months on end without treatment

Bex4567 · 30/04/2023 13:06

If u don't mind me asking were u up to date with your smears ect...

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 30/04/2023 13:52

GHxx · 30/04/2023 10:02

@bobisbored how was the biopsy if you don’t mind me asking? I’m so scared it’s going to be sore and il jump off the bed! I’m pregnant but have my next colposcopy check up in 2 weeks, she said last time she wouldn’t do the biopsy but might the next time so half dreading it but also half wanting it done so I can see what it is without just leaving it for months on end without treatment

I actually found the bit where they put the vinegar stuff on worse than the biopsy

OP posts:
GHxx · 30/04/2023 15:15

@Ilovepugs2017 I had seen some people say that bit was nippy but I wasn’t aware when she had put that on so hopefully the biopsy should be okay then 🤞🏼

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 30/04/2023 15:58

GHxx · 30/04/2023 15:15

@Ilovepugs2017 I had seen some people say that bit was nippy but I wasn’t aware when she had put that on so hopefully the biopsy should be okay then 🤞🏼

Yeah it didn’t hurt a lot to be honest. The vinegar stuff I found stung quite a bit. Hope the biopsy goes ok for you, when do you have it?

OP posts:
GHxx · 30/04/2023 16:03

@Ilovepugs2017 thanks.. my next check up is just over 2 weeks away, I’m having them every 3 months until the baby’s born and they can treat the high grade cells but just hoping it’s not got any worse

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 30/04/2023 16:11

GHxx · 30/04/2023 16:03

@Ilovepugs2017 thanks.. my next check up is just over 2 weeks away, I’m having them every 3 months until the baby’s born and they can treat the high grade cells but just hoping it’s not got any worse

So they have confirmed it is high grade cell changes but not cancer? I know from what I’ve read cervical cancer is one of the slowest to develop. The regular check ups is a positive thing, it’s good that they’re keeping an eye on you until they can treat it x

OP posts:
WolfFoxHare · 30/04/2023 17:08

I had something similar three years ago - HPV found at a smear four years ago, then another smear 12 months later that picked up cell changes. I had the colposcopy and they took two biopsies - I found them quite painful but honestly even though the nurses were all absolutely lovely women who really did their best to make it easy, it was the most violating experience I’ve had (and I’ve had a lot of gynae procedures!). I don’t know why it was so awful but I felt dreadful after. I had CIN3 changes so I had a LLETZ a couple of months later and while that was physically more painful, I found it mentally less traumatic. The injections of local were more painful than the actual LLETZ procedure (obviously since I’d had local). Then it’s just six weeks of no sex, no tampons, no baths and light bleeding/discharge. I had another smear in December 2020 and they found no HPV, and said to come back in three years - I must admit, I’m quite anxious about my next smear in six months or so.

WolfFoxHare · 30/04/2023 17:10

All the letters I had had ‘This is NOT cancer’ in bold, @Ilovepugs2017 . So I tried really hard to focus on that - they’d caught it in time and could treat it easily.

Original poster
Ilovepugs2017 · 30/04/2023 17:29

WolfFoxHare · 30/04/2023 17:08

I had something similar three years ago - HPV found at a smear four years ago, then another smear 12 months later that picked up cell changes. I had the colposcopy and they took two biopsies - I found them quite painful but honestly even though the nurses were all absolutely lovely women who really did their best to make it easy, it was the most violating experience I’ve had (and I’ve had a lot of gynae procedures!). I don’t know why it was so awful but I felt dreadful after. I had CIN3 changes so I had a LLETZ a couple of months later and while that was physically more painful, I found it mentally less traumatic. The injections of local were more painful than the actual LLETZ procedure (obviously since I’d had local). Then it’s just six weeks of no sex, no tampons, no baths and light bleeding/discharge. I had another smear in December 2020 and they found no HPV, and said to come back in three years - I must admit, I’m quite anxious about my next smear in six months or so.

Sorry to hear you didn’t have a great experience with the colposcopy & biopsy’s. Great that they found the cell changes and managed to treat them though.

I’ve always had regular smears but my last three showed up as HPV positive with no cell changes. As I’d had three positive hpv tests they referred me for the colposcopy and obviously found changes as they took a biopsy which I’m still waiting for the results for (been about four weeks since I had it done).

Can’t understand how my smears haven’t picked up the cell changes tho 😬

OP posts: