Colposcopy - please help!

[NeedSomeAnswersPlease]

Hi everyone, I need some help.

I'm 25, and went for my first smear in January. I bled a bit and was told I have a cyst.

I was referred for a colposcopy because the nurse was convinced they wouldn't be able to get a result from my sample - but they did and my results came back clear a couple of weeks later.

It's taken 7 months for my colposcopy appointment to come through. I've had 0 symptoms of anything - but then in June my period was a day late and in July it was 2 days early. That's it, that's set me off into a spiral and I'm convinced I'm going to be told there's something wrong. Even though I'm 90% sure there isn't.

I just can't calm myself down about it. I'm so nervous about the procedure, I'm being treated in a private hospital so I've had to post off a questionnaire about being sedated and having someone called for me!!! I'm really panicking and just don't understand what's happening. I've not been told anything by my GP surgery or the hospital I'm going to, and although I'm trying to tell myself that's good (I.e., they don't suspect cancer) now it's only 10 days away I'm really panicking. Any advice? Or just a hand hold?

The first thing you need to remember is that Colposcopys are fairly common, I've had one and so have my three best friends. I really worked myself up into a state about it and honestly, it was no worse then having a smear itself! Please try not to worry (easier said than done, I know!) xxxx

I think what doesn't help me at all is that a) my cousin's best friend died of cervical cancer at 26, and b) every bit of research I've done keeps coming up with cancer support pages

I know it's really unlikely as I've had the clear smear result, and because the referral has taken so long, bur every time I think of it I'm just filled with anxiety!x

Oh bless you, of course it can be so worrying, especially if they haven't given you any details or anything. Are you allowed to take someone with you to hold your hand while you're there? Sending you virtual hugs and reassurance that I'm sure you are fine!!! Xxx

No, I've called and they won't allow me due to Covid protocols

The only thing keeping me sane is that if they did suspect cancer it would've been a lot quicker than 7 months, and my GP (and referral letter) would've surely said something!

Thanks for the hand hold xx

To make matters worse my job are requesting sight of my referral letter and appointment letter to give me the time off, and I really don't feel comfortable sharing that

Boosting because I'm now doing a lot of reading which involves being told if they take a biopsy I will bleed for four weeks??? I'm going on holiday 10 days after the appointment and really don't want to deal with that

Hi OP. I am just jumping in here as we have been through this recently. Well not me, but my 21 year old dd.

She had an abnormal pap x 2 so then had the Colposcopy in the doctor room. It is similar to a pap, but there is a microscope on it as well so the dr is able to see, and then takes another sample, if I remember correctly this is a brush type instrument. For my dd it was not really different from the pap smear. Except dr will also look into the cervix.

The result of the colposcopy will determine whether you need a biopsy (cone biopsy) which is not what is going to happen at your next appointment. You will not bleed for weeks after the colposcopy, but could if you had to have the cone biopsy.

I hope that is a little bit reassuring. It is a very daunting process I know 💐

Thank you @murphys 🤍

I'm honestly a bit confused why she sent me when my results came back clear, but I guess I have to face up to it and go

I have a cyst on my cervix so was referred for colposcopy. They put the acid on and because there was no colour change they didn’t even need a biopsy! I had worked myself up into a right state and it was absolutely fine. If you need to pop me a message, I’m more than happy to chat!

Fingers crossed it's the same for me! I think it was more because I bled than the cyst, and it was the combo of the two - she told me after the smear I'd be bleeding heavily and there was nothing on the tissue when I went to the toilet half an hour later!

I think she's a slightly anxious nurse, she made a comment about referring nearly everyone because she gets worried, which is concerning.

I just keep telling myself that the 7 month wait means it's definitely not suspected cancer

It is the correct procedure if something comes back as abnormal.

In your case the cyst. But they can come and go as well.

My dd never bled at all. Not after the pap nor the colposcopy. I don't want to go against what the nurse said, but I am not sure that everyone should expect heavy bleeding.

@murphys that was after my smear - she told me as I'd bled so much a) I wouldn't get a result and b) I'd be bleeding for at least that evening - I got a clear result 3 weeks later and didn't bleed until my period!

FWIW, I'm 65 and have a 'dodgy, stennosed, tilted(?)' cervix and HPV (No cysts AFAIK). This means every time a nurse attempts a smear she says "expect an invitation to a colposcopy after 6 weeks". Which always arrives...

Personally I prefer a colposcopy to a smear - you have stirrups, an actual doctor/gynecologist doing the exam, and a nurse who will hold your hand and chat if you ask. (I always do.) It's messier than a smear due to the chemicals used but the NHS provides a free sanitary pad afterwards! I've also had one vaginal biopsy and no bleeding subsequently.

It's absolutely fine, IME. The most stressful part for me is getting a parking space at my local hospital. Good luck. Let's all make the most of the NHS's preventative medicine while we still have it... 😀

Just gone down a rabbit hole of horror stories and people saying they were screaming and thrashing about in pain 😪

Really not looking forward to it at all, and now I need to spend the next ten days a) convincing myself I don't have cancer and b) convincing myself to go

I had one when I was 20 weeks pregnant and they cauterised my cervix because of bleeding. It was a bit uncomfortable but no pain. I did faint after but was fine very quickly. (Don't look at the screen!)

lol yeah, one thing I will not be doing is getting up close and personal with my cervix 🤣

It sounds like the nurse doing your smear was a bit over dramatic about bleeding! Some people may bleed after but it's very normal to not bleed too.

I was referred on after a smear once (literally about 25 years ago) and everything at the hospital was very quick and straightforward. I didn't need any treatment. If anything abnormal is seen at a smear or in the results then it's automatic to follow up. In your case your cyst, so they're doing the right thing. Please don't be afraid to go, I know we'd all prefer to swerve these things but it honestly isnt bad at all.

Yeah I think she was.

I think a lot of the things online are people being overdramatic but it isn't the nicest thing to have e hanging over your head!

Okey you need to take a deep breath and do meditation if needed to calm down. You are making colposcopy sound like it's the end of the world. It's not. I had colposcopy 6 times and it was uncomfortable at times but not painful. I had minimal bleeding for that afternoon and that's it. The consultant told me her observations when doing it so I knew if there was something wrong and I got the results of the biopsy in the post within a month.

I'm really anxious about it, as everyone online seems to say it's painful as hell and leads to a diagnosis of cancer! I can't seem to find any positive stories

I had one once, a few years ago. It came back totally clear no concerns. It was a bit sore and I felt a bit teary afterwards mainly because I had worked myself up into a state with worry like you have OP. But it was fine. Buy a big chocolate bar and a face pack or something for after and plan a quiet cosy night in. It feels so scary because of course you immediately think ‘cancer’ but it really is just a precautionary screening to check, so it is a good thing not a bad thing. Sending a handhold to you 🌷

And yes seconded do not look at the screen! Maybe take headphones if they will let you listen to music or a podcast to help you relax. And you can tell them you are feeling nervous about it.