Looking to see if anyone has some shared experience on this as everything I’ve read online, including NHS guidance and NICE guidelines don’t seem to cover it…
I had my first smear test aged 24.5, which came back positive for HPV, but the sample was inadequate to test for abnormal cells. I wasn’t too stressed about the HPV, I know most people test positive for it at some point etc etc.
I went back 2 or 3 months later (can’t remember) to be retested given the inadequate part. My HPV came back negative, so they didn’t send my cells for testing.
is that the norm? Everything I can find online shows the pathway for if you’re HPV positive both times, or just says you’ll be recalled for testing if there is an inadequate sample but doesn’t explain anymore.
i know HPV can clear over time or “go into hiding”, but just wondering if because I’ve had it at some point time, my cells should be tested?
this was a year ago, and I did wonder at the time, but it’s back on my mind…