Hello everyone,
So I've been in the system for 4 years - lletz in 2018, then more cell changes in 2019 & 20 plus very persistent HPV... This time my smear came back normal (first time ever, yay!) but still HPV positive (damn). I've been told to go for colposcopy again in a year, but since there are no cell changes I assumed I would only need a smear.
I'm glad I'll get checked yearly but would really rather get smears at my GP and avoid more colps unless there are cell changes... Has anyone else been in this situation? Do I just grit my teeth and keep having the colps? I would love any advice!
Hope you're all doing well.
Fran
Hi Fran, im not exactly the same situation however I had persistent hpv, cin3, 1a1 cancer, then clear then cin2. Now hpv negative thankfully. Ive had 2 lletz and a cone biopsy. I go to the hospital yearly for colposcopy and smears. Personally I prefer that, i just think they're specialised and it doesnt take much longer than a smear. I see your point they could just take a smear at the gp surgery but i feel having the colposcopy too is just an extra check, hopefully avoid anything being missed. The colposcopy clinic i was attending just moved to another hospital so its gone from a 20 minute drive to a 40 minute drive but its only once a year and for me personally its worth it. You could ring the colposcopy clinic and ask to speak to the nurse, they may say its ok transfer to the gp and if not explain why x
Oh gosh Libby, you have been through it... So glad to hear that you're HPV negative now. Thanks so much for your reply and yes I think you're probably right, I should just keep doing the colps. I find them really stressful and triggering (my lletz wasn't the best...) so was hoping to avoid them. But, as you say, it's better to be thorough and if I didn't have them I'm sure I'd just find a way to get stressed out about that too :)
Thanks x
I'm 25 and just had my first smear and have been diagnosed with High Risk HPV but no abnormal cell changes? I have to return for another smear in 12 months time. What does this mean? I've been told by my GP that your body is likely to fight this virus off on its own and can take up to about 2 years to do so! I'm just so worried and feel so ashamed that I have been diagnosed with this... I just feel somewhere I must have done something wrong? Does anyone else feel this way? Feeling so alone at the moment and so worried :(
Hi Chloee951,
I think most of us have sttrugled emotionally with having HPV at some point! Try to remind yourself that it's a very common virus. In fact between 80% and 90% of sexually active people will contact hpv during their lives. Most people clear the virus very quickly and won't even know that they have had it. For some people with a cervix it will linger around and may cause mild cell changes. For a few people it will persist further and cause more severe changes. It's only at this point that treatment would be offered because there is a chance that these changes could develop into cancer over many years. My doctor told me it's just like having a cold, it's that common.
I hope you're feeling better about it.
Xx
