Smear - HPV detected

[Megsro]

Hi all.

Backstory. I had a smear one year ago, got the letter and clearly misread it. It did say all things were fine but to retest in one year (this should have made me think, why? As it's every 3 years)

Went in today for my smear and the nurse got up my results from last year and the reason for re test. HPV detected. She said it's not HPV 16 or 18 as they're cancerous? But it didn't state which HPV was detected. Anyway she done another smear, said everything looked fine inside but the results will obviously be posted out in due course (backlog with result letters apparently)

So now I'm freaking out, anyone else had this detected? Or have any help with what it could be?

TIA

I had hpv detected recently but with no cell changes and need to return in 1 year to see if the hpv has cleared. I dont think you need to freak out as it seems to be quite common and at least its being monitored

In the majority of cases HPV is cleared without any intervention.
Don’t worry about it and just see what happens.
HPV isn’t cervical cancer.
CIN changes are not cervical cancer but can be treated if required.
Cervical cancer is quite rare and the smear is not a test for cancer but a screening for cells which could eventually lead to cancer BUT even CIN cells can sort themselves out - or they can be treated.
(something like out of every 100 people or 10 people (I can’t remember) who are treated for cin 1 only 1 would have progressed so the odds are in your favour even if that happens)
BUT you don’t have anything like that right now.
See what your results say and then make a plan to move forward if you need to xx

This explains it really well.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/worried-about-cancer/pre-cancerous-and-genetic-conditions/cin

Thank you both for your answers.

I was down a Google hole 🙄

Is HPV just a sexually transmitted thing? It just did not show up on my smear in 2021 and then appeared 2023!

I had hpv detected last year with changes. I had to go for a Colposcopy and have a biopsy. Results from the biopsy were CIN1 and to have a repeat smear in a year. I've had a repeat smear which still picked up HPV, I've had another colonoscopy but my consultant said it looks as though it is clearing up.

Please don't panic, I drove myself nuts worrying about it.

It can flare up
So even if you tested negative one year and stay single or don't change partners it's doesn't mean it won't be positive 3 years or 6 or 12 and so on

I got told I have HPV few years ago and it cleared off by itself next time I got tested. I don't know how long I had it before it got found as it wasn't tested before (they told me it wasn't included in the tests in the past) but I didn't have any symptoms and didn't even know about it. I wouldn't worry about it unless they tell you differently.

Yes, I had HPV detected in 2018 despite having been single and celibate for six years and having had one new partner in the ten years before that.
I did have CIN changes which were treated and had to have annual smears for five years. The HPV is finally clear. You just need to make sure you don’t miss a smear test and they will let you know if any issues.

They didn't always check for HPV in smears tests and just looked for cell changes. Then they started testing for hpv and only check for cell changes if hpv comes back positive.

www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/diagnostic-tests/cervical-screening www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/diagnostic-tests/cervical-screening]]

Tels you the various results and what they mean

Interested in this .i have never had HPV, married a virgin and did a smear test and was told HPV detected which has never been seen on my previous smears .

does this mean my partner cheated ?I had a lot of vaginal examinations and intrusive examinations last year due to fibrods and other issues so I haven’t challenged him yet as I have never been with anybody else .
what do you think?can it be contacted any other way apart from sexually .

How do you know you've never had hpv? They didn't used to test for it with a smear test. No it doesn't mean he's cheated

@nonsuchmum you were both virgins ?

Thank you for your response .Thats what I wanted to clarify .Your response makes sense now that they never used to test for hpv?so means I could have had it without knowing since it wasn’t being tested for .
is it only sexually transmitted ?Do you know ?

No he wasn’t .He had one person before me .

Sorry don’t know how to reply directly

@nonsuchmum then you've likely caught it from him years ago , your immune system managed to clear it back then and now it has flared up again as it lies dormant

It can be passed by skin to skin as well as sex. It can lie dormant for years too. It never used to be routinely tested for in women and I don't think men are tested for it at all

HPV is responsible for causing the cell changes that can go on to become pre cancerous and eventually cancerous cells. It can be passed on through skin to skin contact, and smokers appear to be at higher risk of contracting it. It doesn't mean any partner has been unfaithful.
The reason smears primarily only test for high risk HPV is because they realised that if you are HPV negative you are highly unlikely (0.3%) to develop cervical cancer without an HPV infection.

Thank you everyone

My smear a few years ago had HPV present but by the time I went back the following year; it had all gone.

Yes. I tested positive for hpv a few months ago. Have to go back next July for another smear test but the letter said the chances of cancer were low. Now I'm worried that it's connected to my recent bleeding between periods issue. Am trying for another baby I'm 35 so scared this will hinder my chances of conceiving