Smear tests only being sent off if HPV is detected.

[Motheroffive999]

Is it correct that smear tests are disposed of rather than being sent away unless the HPV virus is detected?
If so do you think smear tests should be done differently ?
What's your view?
Thank you in advance.

Can you be hpv positive then subsequently screen negative?

if you’ve ever been positive surely the risk is still there as the chance is caused by viral dna integrating into the cells.

or say you’ve had genital warts in the past, before hpv screening was a thing?

This is my worry but I don’t know whether it’s a valid concern. I tested positive for HPV at my first smear, all subsequent ones have been HPV negative. Does that mean I am not at risk of a HPV-related cervical cancer unless I test positive for HPV again?

@Whatsgoingonherethenagain You can be positive for it in-between smear appointments and have cleared it naturally before your next check.

This is another worrying thing as the damage to the cells may be done but as you are only being tested for hpv, it won't be picked up.

The old style smear test would have picked up changes to cells despite being hpv negative or positive for that matter.

@Gansy
I was just reading the self collect HPV pilots and the self-collections were done under supervision at a GP surgery or other clinic. They put in bold that it must be piloted with at home self collection and sending the sample by post before any decision is made. They also state there wasn’t enough data to say self collection is as accurate as collection by a clinician.

It is a worry how many people are still not aware of how smears don't detect cancer anymore - I remember thinking that all my smears had been clear so I wasn't worried 😂 but then diagnosis!

It really is.

And like I said previously here, it's an extra worry for those of us that didn't qualify for the vaccine. So we have the added risk of being more likely to have the high risk HPV strains.

I know, that’s what I was grumbling about in my first post on here. This research has been going on for years without a proper validation study for self-sampling/collection.

I don’t think that’s true.
Most women know where their vagina is and knew before attending a smear test.
Either way, it’s nothing a good instruction video or leaflet wouldn’t sort. If you can follow a leaflet to insert a tampon, you can do the same for a swab.

There’s some work being done on an at home urine test.

You can only ever know how many partners you've had and not how many partners your partner's had.

I have a lot of hope for the galleri cancer blood test
There is an NHS trial on it now. Perhaps in a few years all we need is one annual blood test to check for 50+ cancers,,,,and no more swabs or brushes going up our fannies.

Wouldn’t that be lovely!

Yes! No more mammograms either!
Heaven

Results expected in 2026 for Galleri

Off topic slightly. Does anyone know if you get a private smear test whether they test for abnormal cells or whatever it was they did in the old style ones? Not that you should have to go private of course, was just a thought I had.

I don't know, but I can tell you that here in Belgium it's the other way around. They look at the cells and if any issue, then they check for HPV.

Can anyone knowledgeable answer my question, I’ve asked the nurse everytime at the screening and she doesn’t understand what I’m saying.

3 years ago I tested positive for HPV. (I’m old enough not to have had the vaccine)

I assume it’s been dormant for years. Anyway, I know my cells were tested and ok.

Following year I get the recall. So I go to the screening and I’m told unless I’m HPV+ on that occasion the cells are destroyed without being screened. So I was HPV neg and they were discarded.

My point is, they know I’ve had HPV, so why the following year don’t they test the cells for changes?

Ive been recalled again, and I’m tempted not to go because they aren’t actually looking at my cells.

I don’t know if private screening is a thing? The nurse said there isn’t any way to pay to get the cells checked.

I did ask a couple of private clinics and was told the private tests go to the same cytology labs and so the only way cells are looked at was if HPV positive.
(not saying I was told correct answer, but that’s what I was told)

Wow I did not know this, thank you for bringing this to my (and others) attention OP. I actually have my routine 3 year smear booked for 2 weeks time and am now wondering if a private one would be advantageous. Horrific to think of women who would previously have had their cancer caught and now won’t

@Motheroffive999what’s your view?

Yes you can. It is often more expensive than just having the HPV run but you can definitely get it. I’ve got friends who have gone private for this reason.

@HÆLTHEPAIN How did you find somewhere that does a full screen as I have been looking locally and even a few Harley Street clinics I called only do HPV tests. I am the same as you and had the CIN3 15 years ago. I had the smears for 5 years.

Self collection has been offered as part of the screening program in Australia for several years now https://www.health.gov.au/self-collection-for-the-cervical-screening-test#:~:text=Self%2Dcollection%20is%20available%20to,woman%20%2F%20person%20with%20a%20cervix

Following successful pilot studies in the UK, it’s currently going through a consultation process here https://nationalscreening.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/04/uk-nsc-consults-on-offering-hpv-self-sampling-option-to-under-screened-people-in-cervical-screening-programme/

I am similar - also had CIN3 so the stage before cancer and had an inch of my cervix removed yet have never tested positive for the HPV virus....

It's also like what ... other cancers develop in other parts of the body not necessarily because they have come into contact with a virus....and yet cervix cancer only develops after coming into contact with the HPV virus? Sorry having a hard time accepting that - or perhaps more to the point this way of testing is the most cost effective way to find most of the cancers just not all.

So it can take 2 years for HPV to clear from the body. If you’re found to be HPV positive they’ll invite you back on a yearly basis every time they find a positive to ensure cells don’t exhibit changes conducive with cervical cancer. If it hasn’t cleared in two years (two visits, they will then they will suggest colposcopy. On your second visit, you were neg, so no point (according to their screening protocol) in looking at the cells.

As to why you’ve been asked back again this year, I imagine it’s because of the three-year frequency of invitations from your initial screen.

There are plenty of private clinics which offer cervical PAPT cytology screening for about £250