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Hpv testing

Drew8822
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Hi I have a question re a persistent HPV infection.

I had treatment for high risk cells when I was 24 with loop excision treatment. I was told this was successful. Further smears came back normal. 

I did then have some further examinations for irregular bleeding but was told this may have been because of long term contraceptive use (pill) so I then came off this and the problem resolved. 

A further smear I had came back borderline and I was referred to a gynaecological oncologist. She told me I had persistent HPV and was struggling to get rid of it. She said I migut have a weakened immune system. I had no idea I still had HPV as had assumed after the loop excision it had gone but I'm guessing she looked at my previous tests and maybe they showed no cell changes but HPV still present. She suggested I don't wait too much longer to have children as I'd had this HPV infection for a number of years. Obviously this concerned me a lot!

I had a baby girl in Dec 2o18 and prior to this I did my own research into certain vitamins and herbs that boost the immune system and took various immune strengthening supplements for the next year. 

I was keen to get retested 6 months after giving birth as the HPV plays on my mind a lot. 

I had my test done and got the results yesterday. It came back normal which is fab and a huge relief. What I want to know is does this mean my HPV has now gone? I'm curious to know as I was told I had a long standing infection. I'm considering getting tested privately for HPV but didn't know whether this would have been tested as part of the smear or not? Would they have access to my history and test it?

Thanks,
Andrea

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    Hi Andrea

    Once you have hpv, it never goes and you will have it always. However, it can go dormant, and then it wouldn’t show on testing. Your immune system can get rid of it in the sense that it goes dormant but it could be active and would give a positive result on a future test.

    The loop you had would have cleared the abnormal cells, but not the virus itself. xx

     

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Hello - thanks for taking the time to respond :-)

     

    Didn't know that the virus never actually leaves your body.. Seems odd as the oncologist never told me that. So would they have tested for it at my smear test or is it just purely for cell changes at the test? I'm curious to know whether it has gone dormant or whether it's still active but I have no cell changes hence it coming back fine xx

  • Offline in reply to Drew8822

    Hi Andrea

    My oncologist has never even mentioned the virus, nor did my gynaecologist but I know I must have it because only very rare cervical cancer types are not caused by hpv, and I have adenocarcinoma which is the second most common type I believe. I’m not sure if they test for it at a smear-I’ve been hearing recently that they don’t-they are only looking for abnormal cells. If you have no abnormal cells, then it would appear to be dormant. That’s not to say it wouldn’t be active and cause abnormalities in the future though, which is why it’s important to have regular smears. xx

     

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Thank you :-) Oh yes I'd never miss a smear.. Ive been back and forth so many times for checks after the initial abnormal cells were removed.

     

    I've had a few tests come back normal but it was the oncologist that said I'd never actually got rid of the virus (I'm guessing meaning it was still active) but hadn't caused any further cell changes. I mighy by a testing kit and send it off myself to see.

     

    Thanks again and the very best of luck in your treatment xx

  • Offline in reply to Drew8822

    Thanks Andrea

    I completed all my treatment on Christmas Eve and have had a clear scan and no evidence of disease, so I’m doing well. It’s good to keep on top of things and to try and ensure that you keep your immune system as healthy as possible. I’ve learnt a lot since I was diagnosed last year, and consider myself very lucky to have been seen and treated quickly with great results. xx

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    That's amazing for you.. You must feel so relieved! Good for you for getting through it all so positively xx

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