Hi all
I’m mostly here to ask some questions and to hopefully ease my mind.
2018 I had a smear with HPV but no cell changes. 2019 follow up I had HPV with cell changes. Colposcopy letter said it showed CIN1 but at the appointment she said there was a small pocket of CIN2 as well. They wanted to do cold coag (from memory) but I asked for a wait and see approach as I’d read that some percentage of people can have their cells revert, particularly if the HPV is cleared.
Can’t remember if follow up was six month or a year later but it came back clear and no HPV. I was put back on the three yearly usual smear checks.
Just had that done and was quite surprised to see the results came back positive for HPV and with cell changes again. So I’m waiting on another colposcopy which they said would be in the next few weeks.
I’ve been through this before so in one sense I’m not worried. But I’m worried about the HPV. As it has recurred (unlikely it’s a new infection). And both times I’ve had it I had cell changes. So what happens in the long run? Is this going to be chasing me forever? My body doesn’t seem to be able to get rid of it. And seems to be easily damaged by it. If I have a procedure to remove cell changes I have plenty more cells for the HPV to harm. Like when does it end? Did anyone else feel this way? Am I being too pessimistic? I just don’t want to keep worrying about this forever. I’m worried this time the results will be worse. But it’s more the long term that concerns me than the immediate investigations.
Hi CoraK and welcome to our group.
i can understand your concerns about hpv having had some cell changes in the past, but it’s a very common virus, that can be contracted by anyone who has ever had genital sexual contact. It cannot be cured, so it is something that is there, but it may not always be active, which is why it wouldn’t show up in a test if the virus is dormant. The hope is that your immune system suppresses it and that it doesn’t cause issues. For the vast majority of people it doesn’t ever, but for some of us of course it does cause cell changes.
Many women will have a screening test that’s positive for hpv, as this is the first test carried out in screening now, but it doesn’t mean you would again have cell changes, or that they would be worse than before. The aim of regular screening is to identify the virus and look for any changes and treat them if necessary.
People can have very different feelings about having the hpv virus, but all you can do is attend regular screenings and try to maintain a healthy immune system.
I hope your next colposcopy goes well, and you don’t have further issues.
Sarah xx
Hi CoraK
You could spend your life worrying, but you’d be worrying about something that might never happen, so it would be such a waste of time for you.
No-one can predict how quickly cells might change due to the virus being active, or indeed if they ever would-not even a doctor. Having cell changes doesn’t mean you would necessarily ever develop cancer.
Sarah xx
