Cervical cancer

Hi all, 

I received my smear results yesterday. I was hpv positive but had no abnormal cells. I have severe Lower back pain and have to see my gynaecologist next week. I'm terrified that I have something wrong. Has this happened to anyone else. 

  • Hello Claire1993 and thanks for posting, 

    I am not sure if anyone else will come along and post, but even if they do, it might not shed much light on what is causing your back pain - everyone is different and back pain is a very common problem which can happen for lots of reasons.

    I don't think there is a link between your smear results and the back pain. Bear in mind that cervical screening is really all about prevention. The idea is to pick up abnormal cells from the cervix, assess them and when needed, (some cells are monitored for a while), treat them to prevent cancer from developing in the future. 

    Being HPV positive often causes some worry but it is a common and usually short lived infection that in the majority doesn't cause harm, having no abnormal cells is reassuring. Although HPV is associated with abnormal cells and cervical cancer, most of the time our immune systems get on top of HPV so it doesn't cause abnormal cells, or if it does, they go back to normal once the virus is cleared. 

    When the smear/screening sample was taken the nurse would have had a good look at your cervix and if it hadn't looked healthy she would have told you and referred you to be seen by someone else, maybe a gynaecologist or the colposcopy clinic (a colposcopy is a close examination of the cervix under strong magnification).  As a general rule if a cervical cancer is sizable enough to cause back pain then I think it is fair to say that the cervix would usually look wrong.

    I am not sure why you are under the care of a gynaecologist, but do talk to them or your GP about your back pain, ask what is causing it and what might help. 

    I hope things improve for you. 

    Give us a call if you want to talk anything over. Our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are around from 9-5, weekdays.

    Best wishes, 

    Julia