Tomorrow I will get results from colposcopy after my pap came back high risk HPV. Last years pap was clear. Does high risk HPV on pap mean I have it. What should I expect tomorrow? I’m 57 and been with same partner for 38 years
Hi Lynslj and welcome to our group.
It’s always a worry facing some results we’re not sure about, so I understand your concerns. I’m not sure where you are, but in the UK cervical screening is done to detect hpv first and from there find out if has caused any cell changes.
There are more than 100 different strains of hpv, and the testing here is done for high risk strains. If you have tested positive for hpv, it means you have one of the high risk strains. There is no cure for hpv, but it’s extremely common in many different forms. Most people can clear it within a couple of years with a healthy immune system, but it can be dormant in your system, and be active at a future point again. It never truly disappears.
However, carrying the hpv virus does not necessarily mean you would ever get cancer-millions of people who have ever been sexually active in the world can carry the virus and never experience any issues with it. It’s only in recent years here that checking for the virus has been the first testing in a screening, so many women are finding out for 5he first time that they have it.
It does not mean that either partner in a relationship has been unfaithful-but it can mean that it’s been dormant in your system for a long time. Or it might have been active in the past, but it wasn’t tested for in screening.
The colposcopy is having a closer look at your cervix to see if there are any areas of abnormality. Again this isn’t necessarily cancer, but the colposcopy is looking for any cell changes. There are several different types of cell changes which can be caused by hpv, which are not cancer, but are abnormal looking. You didn’t mention if any biopsies were taken at your colposcopy, or if any liquid was applied to your cervix? This is done to check for any abnormalities.
The results from your colposcopy could say a number of things-
The hpv virus hasn’t caused any cell changes OR
Some cell changes have been identified-these could be at a number of levels-borderline, moderate or severe OR
If a biopsy has been taken, it COULD potentially be cancer.
The best result is obviously one where there are no changes at all, but until you have your results it’s impossible to say what the outcome might be. Please come back and let us know how you get on. I don’t want to bombard you with information right now while you are already anxious but abnormal cells(which are pre cancerous) can be treated very easily in a clinic appointment. It’s best not to Google or try and second guess things as that will only serve to increase your anxiety.
But please feel free to come back and post again with any questions you have, and with your results if you’d like to.
Sarah xx
I hope it all goes well and there is nothing of concern found.
Sarah xx
