Hi there and thanks for the post

Cervical screening is all about preventing cervical cancer. It is designed to pick up abnormality at an early stage where it can be either monitored or treated until everything returns to normal.

The first test performed in cervical screening is to check for high risk strains of the human papilloma virus (hpv). This is an extremely common virus that is passed through intimate skin to skin contact that the immune system usually clears within a couple of years of coming into contact with.

HPV itself doesn't cause cancer but sometimes can cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix, that is left undetected may go on to develop into cancer. Therefore if HPV can be picked up in screening those women cervical cells can be checked for abnormality and treated ( removed ) if necessary. When HPV is detected without any cell changes as in your care, then it is normal to be rescreened in a years time.

There is no harm to you having to wait a year because even when HPV does cause abnormal cells to develop it often taken a long time for those abnormal cells to turn into cancer.

I hope this is helpful information to you and that this can put your mind at ease for now.

Do get back in touch if you have further questions or if you prefer call us on 0808 800 4040 and we can talk this through with you.

Best wishes

Naomi

I’ve just had my smear come back as HPV positive, I can’t believe it, I’m 47 but I’ve only had one sexual partner and we used protection every time as I wasn’t on the pill. I know it’s not impossible to catch it but what are the chances, how unlucky can I be?! That relationship ended 15 years ago and I’ve not been near anyone since.  I work in care so I’m in contact with people daily but always with gloves on. I hug my parents when I see them but other than that I haven’t been near anyone and I live a life of solitude by myself. I haven’t had regular smears and only had one this time because I was seeing the Gynaecologist about pain caused by fibroids. I’ve no idea if this virus has been dormant or whether it’s been festering for years and now I’m convinced that the pain I thought was caused by fibroids is actually cancer but I’m having a real battle with the doctor to get tested to at least rule it out. They keep telling me not to worry and that my body will clear it despite me telling them that I must have been infected 15 years ago so my body obviously hasn’t cleared it. I feel like my life is over and I feel disgusting. To be honest I’d rather not have known I had this disgusting disease, if there’s no cure then what is the point in testing for it? 

Hi Fluffy12, and thank you for your post.

I am sorry to hear about your cervical screening results and the concerns you have about HPV and the symptoms you are also experiencing.

The point of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme is all about preventing cervical cancer by picking up abnormal cells at an early stage, where they can be monitored or treated before they can mature and become cancerous cells. There are strict guidelines and time frames for cervical screening to ensure this is an effective screening programme.

The test looks for high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause these cell changes. Being diagnosed with high-risk HPV on a smear test does not mean you have cancer, and it would not cause any symptoms.

Those found to have high-risk HPV without abnormal cells usually have yearly screening. It is reassuring that no abnormal cells have been found, and your cells may never become abnormal. If you attend your smear tests as scheduled, it is unlikely that you will develop cervical cancer, as any changes that may occur will be picked up before they progress to cancer.

As you are probably aware, HPV, for most people, usually clears within a couple of years of coming into contact with it, but there are some individuals who, for some reason, have persistent HPV. This can be in the case of smokers or people with a lowered immune system, but not always, and it's not fully understood why.

HPV is incredibly common; 80 percent of people who are sexually active/intimate will have it in their lifetime, as it is passed by skin-to-skin contact. It is also possible for HPV to clear and then lie dormant (go to sleep), and then be reactivated (wake up) again in the future. This is why it is impossible to know exactly when a person first came in contact with HPV. It is important to remember that men can have HPV but are not tested, and they would have no symptoms 'to give it away'.

I'm not sure how your fibroids were diagnosed, but Sonographers (ultrasound practitioners) are trained and experienced at distinguishing between fibroids and cancer. Do read about them further and the pain they can cause.

I'm sorry you feel anxious during this time. We often recommend visiting the NHS Every Mind Matters website or Anxiety UK  for tips on how to cope.

Or maybe you could speak to your GP to see if counselling may be useful.

I hope this helps and reassures you.

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 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.

 Kind regards

Tina