Hello fleurr and thanks for your post

I am sorry to hear about the ongoing symptoms you have and appreciate you are worried.

It appears the doctors are still thinking that the symptoms you are having are linked to the bacterial vaginosis (bv) here and if this continues to persist and the creams aren't helping go back to speak with your doctor about this again.

Cervical screening is all about the prevention of cervical cancer by picking up abnormality that over time may lead to cancer. HPV is an extremely common infection passed through intimate skin to skin contact. Most sexually active people will come in contact with it at some point in their life. However usually it will clear within a couple of years of coming in contact with it, without it causing problems.

The cervical screening programme first checks for HPV and if a high risk strain is present they will then check the cells for abnormality. Low grade dyskaryosis means that some cells appear slightly different to the normal cells usually found in the cervix. These need to be closely examined in colposcopy possible with a biopsy to confirm the type of abnormal cell but often than not treatment isn't needed for low grade changes as these often resolve by themselves.

Abnormal (dyskaryosis) cells in the cervix aren't cancerous but are regarded as pre-cancerous in the fact that over time (usually many years) they may turn into cancer. 

Having a history of BV alongside HPV can increase the likelihood of abnormal cells developing in the cervix. However HPV and abnormal cells don't usually cause symptoms.

Do also try and bear in mind that over the past year when you have been assessed and examined and swabs have been taken, the doctors will have viewed your cervix. If at that point they had seen anything concerning they would have referred you on at that point for colposcopy, so try and be a little reassured by this.

The important thing now is to go to colposcopy and see what they have to say.  Alongside this as I said above if the other symptoms you have (pain, swelling and bloating) continue you need to speak to your doctor so they can reassess this and  make sure no other tests are needed to check this out.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

All the best,

Naomi

Hi, further to the above, I've had a colposcopy, during which it was discovered i have a wart on my cervix. A biopsy was taken of the area with the wart, the results were returned as CIN1.

I was also told that the procedure was unsatisfactory as my cervix wasn't open sufficiently to allow for the inside to be examined / a sample taken. I have to have the procedure repeated in 3 months.

I have never heard reference to needing a sample from the inside of my cervix before. What's the likelihood of internal and external samples being different? Should I be concerned, is the wart an issue and what happens if the next procedure is also deemed to be insufficient?

Thank you

Hello and thank you for your post,

As you probably know, CIN1 is not cancer, but you will be checked out again to see if this area remains as CIN or reverts to normal. 

Warts and CIN (Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) are caused by different types of HPV (human papilloma virus).   You can read more about this on Jo's Trust website.

During colposcopy the cervix can be looked at closely, and biopsies can be taken from inside the cervix as needed. If there is a problem visualising the cervix again it might be possible that you will need to have this done under a general anaesthetic.

You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline