HPV positive and cervical cysts

Hello Bracciano I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. Your GP doesn't sound very empathetic!! If you look at my profile you will see that I have had a similar experience to you except that maybe my GP has been kinder. At colposcopy they found a nabothian cyst which apparently a lot of women have after childbirth and it was completely benign. Jo's Cervical cancer trust is a charity to support women like you and me and there are lots of ladies on there with similar experiences. They have a helpline run by volunteers. The Eve Appeal is another charity for women with gynae health issues and they have a nurse helpline. MacMillan also has an excellent helpline. Jo's Trust has a forum and information pages about HPV, cell changes and colposcopy and cervical screening. The cervical screening has now changed to HPV first testing which means that they test for HPV before they look for cell changes. 80% of people have HPV in their lifetime but most never know they have had it and there are no symptoms. Your immune system usually clears it within 2 years but it can lie dormant for years - even decades. It is nothing to be ashamed of - it is as common as the common cold. I hope this has helped you.

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Hello Bracciano just to add to my previous post, there are also other parts of the MacMillan forum where you can find support; the Ask a nurse service, the cervical cancer section and the emotional issues section. I have also found a really useful book called The Gynae Geek written by a female gynaecologist who is one of the doctors who are part of the charity The Eve Appeal. It clearly explains all sorts of things like cervical screening and results, HPV and nabothian cysts. I wish I had found it years ago. For my generation education on all things women's health was sadly lacking. It was all so taboo. It's such a good book I am going to buy it for my grown up daughter. She and I have both suffered from period pain and I have felt so helpless as a Mum to help her. My recent scary experience has made me realise how many women there are who suffer in silence through all of this. You are not alone and you haven't done anything wrong. You attended your screening which is the right thing to do so your GP needs to think about her attitude and whether she might be unapproachable. She may have been trying to tell you that only a medical expert who knows the facts of your case can answer your questions but I think she could have worded her answer better. I know GPs are under pressure and we only have 10 minute appointments but women should not be put off seeking medical help and dismissed as illogical. Only recently in the press there was a case where women had been dismissed for years after being in pain following vaginal mesh surgery for having "women's issues" and it isn't acceptable. Is there a nurse at your practice who is more approachable than your GP? It's important that you find emotional support through this. By the way vaginal mesh surgery has nothing to do with the treatment you will have for cell changes. I can't fault my consultant gynaecoligist and the hospital team. They were really kind and understanding. Have you been appointed a clinical nurse specialist at the hospital? Mine was really kind and reassuring. I hope this helps you and I wish you all the best.

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Dear JaneAustinfan

Thank you for taking the time a trouble to write back to me. I hope you are doing well at the moment.

I have taken your advice and done an online chat with McMillan. The nurse was able to answer my question and said it was likely that the cysts and the HPV positive result with abnormal cell changes were two different things. She also told me that cervical cells changes were very treatable which had reassured me. It was just unlucky that my smear result came after the colposcopy when the cysts were removed, otherwise perhaps the treatment for both could have been done at the same time. The waiting for results and further appointments is hard. 

I think I will try talking to the practice nurse. Although I appreciate my GP sending me to the specialists regarding the cysts , her advice over the phone yesterday left me feeling adrift.

many thanks 

Hi Bracciano I'm glad I could help you and that the nurse on MacMillan has reassured you. Waiting for tests and results is one of the hardest parts of all this but the nurse is right cell changes are very treatable and remember the point of cervical screening is to try to catch cell changes before they have a chance to turn into cancer. It is still scary though! I really hope that it all goes well for you. Try to keep busy and look after yourself. If you feel anxious and need someone to talk to I can recommend the Jo's Trust helpline. 

Thank you for asking how I am. I am ok thank you and much calmer now that the hospital has discharged me! I am trying to live a more normal life again but I still pop back on here partly to support others because I remember how scared I was back in September

Take care of yourself and I hope you are able to enjoy some of the good summer weather in spite of all that is happening in the world and in your own life

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Many thanks

it was good to ‘talk’ to you.