Smear - HPV positive

[Shadow1986]

Just received my smear result. HPV positive but no abnormal cells so another smear required in a year.
I’ve been with my husband for 18 years and I’ve never had a HPV positive result on my previous smears. I’m a bit confused about my result. I realise HPV can be dormant, but for 18 years? Can anyone shed any light or anyone had similar?

Hiya love

HPV can lie dormant for AGES

Whats more is in England (and Scotland and Wales I think) HPV testing only really came in in 2019 or 2020. So your smears before then would not have detected it, but you could have been HPV positive at the time

I have read that pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause and serious illness can be a cause but also sometimes there is just no cause and it’s your immune system just being a bit crazy

Women who are abstinent can also get HPV come back out of nowhere

Did your results letter have any useful info about dormant HPV?

Your previous smears may not have tested for hpv as they used to only check for cell changes so it would never have been picked up before.

I had hpv detected a couple of years ago and a follow up smear a year later showed no hpv so it had cleared. Now I'm back on the 5 yearly recall.

Hi OP
I meant to add to my post but my phone rang and I missed the edit window

I work in healthcare so I have seen this happen, get women ringing up so worried! Smears are a such stressful ordeal for so MANY women.

Jo’s Trust Charity used to have lots of great information I used to direct women to but sadly they closed last year

The Australian Cancer Council has some useful info
https://www.cancer.org.au/cervicalscreening/i-am-over-25/what-does-my-test-result-mean/what-about-my-partner

It says there that HPV can be dormant for 10-20 but because of the way our system works most women only have about 5 years HPV screening history. There was HPV triage in some places before that but you would have only got that if you had a previously abnormal smear and the trust were using it.

I haven’t seen anything to say that dormant HPV is any more to worry about for your health compared to a new infection, so try to keep yourself generally physically and mentally healthy and hopefully next smear will be negative again

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me this info.

That is a very good point, I was very overdue this smear so there is a chance they may not have tested for HPV on my last smear. Thanks for the information!

Can I ask a question?
I had a smear this morning, and they couldn't do it because there was some tissue in the way, possibly a polyp, and I have to go back for the GP to have a look next week, and then either do the smear or send me off for further testing.

I am a bit shaken to be honest, can any health professionals give me any advice?

You’re welcome love, wishing you the best. Did you have any abnormal cells? If no abnormal cells you will be recalled in 12 months so hopefully clear by then

Hiya love
Polyps are very common and they are almost always benign. They may need to refer you to colposcopy so they can get a better look. They can remove the polyp(s) and send them off for testing

If they can’t do your smear because the polyp is in the way they may still be able to do an HPV test before and then full smear once you’ve had the polyp results

No abnormal cells so just another test in 12 months. Thank you. ☺️

Hi OP, you have had some great info already so I don’t need to add to that.

I just came to say, it can be a shock when you get this diagnosis but just to keep on the yearly smears and it will be fine!

I have been on annual smears for my whole smear “career” and only once have I had a HPV negative result. So I just keep on top of it and make sure it’s managed, had a few colposcopies and a LLETZ procedure to shift some cells, but still all good.

Which reminds me, I need to book in my test too 🤣

thank you so much, that is very reassuring

What the other posters have said but also adding - it is possible to find out the exact strains of HPV that you have by taking a test privately. I think it can be done through by posting a sample. Some people get a bit more reassurance knowing this information as some strains are more serious than others. It's possible to also do some work to boost your immune system to help the HPV go back to a dormant status.