Hi Doritos, 

I recently too received a positive high risk HPV result. Fortunately my smear came back normal. Although this does nothing for my anxiety as I know smears are not 100% at detecting cervical cancer and I've had a few mild symptoms. I have to now wait 12 months for another smear. I too am in a very trusting relationship with my partner of 13 years and there's no doubt I must have contracted it from him in the beginning or even before that from someone else. From what I've read it can lay dormant for a long time or it can linger in some people for decades. We are obviously the unlucky ones. There's another thread with others in the same boat too. Ours is classed as persistent hpv. It's really frustrating that I'm having to wait a year when I know I've had it as long as I have. I really want to demand a colposcopy to thoroughly check there's no abnormalities. 
 

Have a look at the other thread, there's many different accounts and others in same situation as you with further tests needed. 
 

wish you all the best. Let me know how you get on :) 

Hi Dee

I'm so glad this chat still works:) I'm really scared of this positive HPV and borderline changes :( They booked me for colonoscopy,so it might be serious :( It doesn't help that my grandma died from Ovarian Cancer :/ My symptoms are: painful and very heavy periods, a lot of discharge even if I don't have a period coming out from the other side (weirdly) and pain in my left side of abdomen (ongoing). I'm scared because I have a child and it's always hard when you have such a big responsibility. I would probably feel different if I'm single :/ My poor husband doesn't know what to do either, are we band from sex forever or shall we try with condoms after all the tests etc? It's embarrassing to talk to friends and family about it,so I'm hoping people will be more open here and respond politely :)

Why women have to go through all of that?! We getting virus from the men,but only we can die from it-great,not!

Whatever happens I wish you all the best! Keep me updating about the process. I will too about mine. At the moment I'm waiting for Colonoscopy :/

D.

Hi I'd just like to jump on and maybe put your mind at ease a little :) 

high risk HPV with borderline changes isnt a stage of cancer, it can indicate a pre cancer that can be treated way before it turns into cancer, the pre cancer can range from borderline, mild, moderate or severe, as scary as it is borderline is the least severe but the colposcopy will just be a precaution to see if any treatment is needed with the high risk HPV being present :) even the most severe pre cancer can take up to 10 years before it turns, some who have gone for the colposcopy have even found that changes have reverted back to normal on their own and no treatment for the cells were needed but if treatment is needed they can offer it at the appointment..

You can absolutely still have sex! :) even while your going through the tests.. it's only advised not too around 24 hours before the colposcopy so enjoy yourselves ;) you will be advised when you can and can't :) condoms do reduce the risk of contracting it but it's not 100% as it's not just penetrative sex it's also skin to skin woman who are only interested in other woman are also just as at risk so it's really completely up to yourselves if use would like to use condoms :) 

There are over 100 strains of the virus but the few strains that can cause CC even though it's contracted sexually they aren't seen as 'dirty' ones you have nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about, around 80% of sexually active adults will have come into contact with it at some point in their lives and they don't even know it as there are no symptoms, the virus itself can lay dormant for decades so you won't really know how long you've had it and usually once it activates the immune system makes it dormant again before any changes start but some woman can have it persistently no matter what they do, that being said even woman who have a persistently can still go on never to develop CC they just like to keep monitoring 

easier said than done but try not too worry too much, DR Google isnt the most helpful at times like this lol try not too Google too much or if you do try and stay to the more reputable sites there's a lot of misinformation out there that will put you in a state of panic x

Thank you very much for your response :) I feel better now :) It’s always worrying when you see these letters from the hospital without clear explanation and then you do need to research  what the hell is going on with you,so I really appreciate websites and chats like this one,because even if it's scary-You are not alone! There are people who has the same problems or even worse! Supporting each other is very important and talking to friends and family won't always have the same effect. 

So,thank you one more time and have a lovely day :)

D.

Hello and thanks for your post

It is understandable to be concerned when receiving news of an abnormal test result but try not to worry. The cervical screening programme is all about preventing cancer by detecting abnormalities that can then be monitored or treated until everything returns to normal.

It is known that high risk strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are responsible for most abnormal cells to develop in the cervix. If these went undetected after several years (often 10 plus) these could turn into cancer. This is why HPV is now checked for as the first test in the screening programme. If the sample is HPV positive they will then check for abnormal cells in cytology and if there are none present it is normal and safe to be re screened in 1 year.

HPV is an extremely common infection that is passed through intimate skin to skin contact. Usually the body's immune system will clear it within a couple of years of coming into contact with it without it causing any problems. However some people can be re-infected by passing in back and forth between a partner or can be infected with a different strain at a later date. It is also worth knowing some people can have persistent HPV that can linger on but not necessarily cause any harm. Unfortunately it is impossible to know when someone first came into contact with HPV as sometimes it can clear from the body, lay dormant (go to sleep) and re activate some time later. 

As long as women attend for their screening recall and any other follow up appointments the risk of anything serious happening is highly unlikely. It is acceptable to be rescreened again in a year to check the HPV has cleared any time sooner is unlikely to be of any benefit. It can take a good 1-2 years to clear the HPV so it is important to give the body time to do it's job. If the HPV hasn't cleared but still with no abnormal cells they will re screen again in another year. If there are cell changes they will take a closer look in colposcopy and either monitor or treat (if necessary) as mild cell changes can also be cleared and dealt with by the body's immune system.

Cervical screening is very successful so as long as you go along for your appointment and follow the advice given everything should be okay. So please try not to overly worry about this.

I hope this is of use. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Celene

Thank you for your support Celine.

It's so nice to talk about it with someone who has professional advice instead of judging me. 

I will keep the number in case my Colonoscopy turns bad :/

Have a nice day and Thank you one more time.

D.

They really don't give enough information it would calm a lot of anxiety if they gave more info on the initial letter the terminology they use is awful and can't help yourself when Google has all this information haha we all do it :)  I'm glad your feeling better about your results and you are definitely not alone you will have to keep us updated on how you get on :)

It may just be a typo but I hope you've been looking up colposcopy instead of colonoscopy as that's something different and a lot more invasive than what you would be having x

Oh you poor thing. I agree,this forum is all I needed! Me and my husband didn't know what to think or say:/ Just look at each other like "what the hell"?! I told him we are probably band from sex for a life etc. You just get this stupid letter from the hospital and need to figure out what it all means :/ I'm glad there are people here who can explain it or just give you that support you need at that very time. I actually told my husband I'm on this forum and how cool it is. He's glad I'm less worried and learns together with me. Call your GP and have a chat (I know they can be useless sometimes but you've got to try it!). We pay so much money to NHS,they need to start putting an effort! All I can see around are these pointless leaflets with various tel nr.and when u call them-no one answers! Or if they do,I feel like I'm talking to the machine. So yes,I will be nagging them until they do something :) 

Good Luck and let me know what they said ;)

D.