Referred for colposcopy and have to wait 4 months.. terrified!

[Emma1992x]

Hi all

it’s just to ask for any experiences or reassurance for a colposcopy, I had my smear around a month ago and never got any results back! Then today I got an appointment through email confirming I had been booked in for a colposcopy at hospital and immediately panicked !

i called my GP to ask about it but they had no information which i am annoyed about as surely they must have results so i will be calling them back when they reopen but they did refer me to the appointments line who explained to me what would be happening and that a hospital letter is on its way

my last smear was 3 years ago with no issues and im just sat here panicking myself - why 4 months!? What a long and horrible wait :(

any experiences of this? Or timescales to share etc? Losing my mind

Colposcopy was fine for me. It was hysteroscopy that was horrendous. I had colposcopy because of abnormal cells and hpv and was cleared very quickly. I’m guessing the fact you’re waiting four months means they’re not worried.

Thanks for your reply, I was thinking the same thing to be honest about the longer wait time…

I called the doctors and they have explained that the results haven’t been sent yet as a doctor needs to review them but surely if they have referred me for this they know what the results are.. would be nice to have some clarity 😕

Colposcopies (IME) are absolutely fine. Less unpleasant than smears, done by a Gynae doctor with a nurse to help (and in my case hold my hand and distract me).

There's various reasons to have colposcopies after smears - mine are:

• I'm 65 and they still need to keep an eye on my dodgy cells and HPV, (How old are you? Do you have HPV? Or are you lucky enough to have had the vaccine?)
• I've never had kids so it's apparently harder to see what's going on up there. (Are you a mother?)
• My cervix is stennosed (sealed) after previous minor procedures so a colposcopy provides more useful information.

I'm always told to expect a colposcopy referral after 6 weeks (cos of the above) and I always get one. I console myself with the thought that it's fantastic that the NHS still cares, still refers women on, even when they're over 65. Keep calm and don't miss your appointment. Good luck.

I’m 32 and had my first child 5 years ago, I did have the hpv vaccine I think, from memory! But it was so long ago - my past smear three years ago was clear I believe although I can’t remember if it said I had HPV - I’m just so nervous it’s really horrible and 4 months is such a long wait, also nervous about why they can’t give my results yet, thank you for your response it’s reassuring to know it’s not that bad, I’m just so panicked and it’s come out of the blue with no real talk or explanation

@Emma1992x

Just worked out from your username what your likely age was! Duh!

Waiting's horrid isn't it? Maybe think about Occam's razor. (It's a principle that states the simplest explanation that explains all the data is usually the most likely to be correct. Which in this case is: the NHS is overstretched. It's the busiest time of year. Your results just need a non-urgent checkup. Important lab things take time.)

Maybe distract yourself by starting a medical file with printouts of what you already know, older stuff, finding out if you did or didn't have the HPV vaccine, if you do have HPV, etc. It might be useful down the line. Take care!

Don’t panic lovely! Sounds like HPV/some abnormal cells have been found and you’ve been automatically booked in for a colposcopy before the results have gotten the chance to reach you yet.

I’ve just gone through this myself - I waited 11 weeks for the results of my latest smear test! Results received on December 12th saying cell changes found, then a letter on December 14th inviting me to book my colposcopy appointment… which I then had just days later on the 17th! And everything went fine - no biopsy needed as the changes were very mild, and now just have to get another smear test in 12 months. I was really lucky to get booked in so fast.

4 months is awfully long to wait for an appointment, but it’s reassuring that they can’t have found anything too concerning or sinister otherwise I’m sure you’d be seen a lot quicker than this.

Try put it out of your mind as best you can for now (easier said than done!) and see what your results letter actually says once it arrives. And then once your colposcopy appointment comes around, remember it’s just a closer look at things! And if there are any cells that need removed, be relieved you’re in the system and being looked after. It’ll all be okay!

Thank you godly, it’s been a really tough year losing family members and I didnt need this on top of everything else, just wanted to put my mind at ease a little bit as I know this is more a preventative thing which is good, I know some people that don’t even go for their smear so I’m grateful I attended to be honest.. like you say better to be in the system and be aware, just have gone into panic mode 😭