Hoping some people can help provide me some info on why it appears CIN1 changes are not monitored.
it appears they are only monitored when HPV is still active. Once negative HPV you are no longer checked with a colposcopy only smear tests that check for HPV
to give the background. I tested positive for HPV in 2018, 2019, 2020 and finally they did a colposcopy in Nov 2021. Didn’t get the right sample so had to have a 2nd colposcopy in March 2022. Minor cell changes detected - CIN1. Follow up smear a year later
so then March 2023 smear checked for HPV, negative and come back for a smear in 3 years. I couldn’t help but worry that how do we know if the cell changes have gone if we aren’t checking via colposcopy??
so I queried it and asked them so can they confirm that cell changes will go away now my body has got rid of HPV. They couldn’t confirm this so offered me a reassurance colposcopy to check the cell changes. I’ve had that now and yes they can still see cell changes and took another biopsy today. Confused and a little annoyed as I was hoping today would be the day it would be clear and I could finally put the last 6 years of worry behind me. I’m now waiting on results.
My concern is how many cases could be missed, if once HPV is gone they just assume cell changes ‘should’ go back to normal and do not monitor? Because in my mind surely they can’t always go back to normal otherwise CIN2 and CIN3 wouldn’t exist?
Hi Louisr and welcome to the group.
It can be confusing, but I believe that this is correct. Colposcopies are only done to check the cells if hpv is found. CIN1 is a low level of abnormality, but I appreciate it can still be worrying for you, if this is not checked again. Typically the body’s own immune system should clear the hpv, but this doesn’t always happen.
CIN1 isn’t usually treated, as it’s considered to be overtreatment, so it would depend on what the results of your most recent colposcopy show now you have had a biopsy taken. If the results are no abnormal cells present you’ll be fine, and if you get a CIN1 result again you are still not likely to need any treatment. If the results are higher, treatment may be recommended.
It’s rare to get any testing outside the usual timescale set down in the cervical screening programme as it’s considered to be suitable as it is.
I’m sorry you’ve had 6 years of worry already and potentially will be worried again, but many women even with a positive hpv result will not have any abnormalities detected in a colposcopy.
Sarah xx
