Hi Lic

Are you able to share a little more about what you’re afraid of so that perhaps  we can reassure you a little about those fears?

You have already been brave enough to go for smears and you’ve had treatment for abnormal cells with the loop excision, so this would just be another step to check that you have nothing serious going on. It’s much better, honestly, to have symptoms investigated and resolved rather than go through anything more major. xx

I am afraid of HPV still being there or cells being affected. It's absolutely terrifies me and takes up so much of my thoughts all day. 

I have tried therapy to overcome negative thoughts but I find myself googling and thinking all of the time.

I think having the increased discharge is worrying me and making me think something is going on that's bad. 

I had a c section three months ago so insure of that plays a part in increased discharge of if it's something else. I am just worrying all of the time.

Thank you for replying to me 

You might test positive for high risk HPV again, as it’s an extremely common result but it’s only when it causes cell changes that it can produce potential issues. The vast majority of people won’t even know they have HPV: if it’s dormant rather than active, you would test negative at your screening, but the virus is still in your body- there isn’t a cure for it. And there is no test for men. So having hpv in itself is not something you should spend time worrying over.

If the virus has caused changes to the cells, depending on the severity of the changes they would be either monitored or removed as you’ve had done before. 

Discharge can be for all sorts of reasons, so may not be in any way connected to having the virus.

Google is seriously not a good idea- you’ll be reading about cancer and all sorts of horror stories and it cannot tell you what is wrong, even if you might have similar symptoms to those you are reading about. If google could diagnose us, doctors wouldn’t be needed at all! 

You have a new baby to enjoy, so much better to concentrate on that instead of obsessing on the Internet. If there were something wrong, and you did nothing about it because you were too fearful, it could get worse, and that would make everything much harder for you. It will be better for you to get your results and if anything further is needed you can have this done and get on with your life. Perhaps it’s time to seek more help for your anxiety, as this can be very debilitating in itself. xx

I was having issues below.... I couldn't get to see a doctor. I went to pharmacies to try to sort my problems. Eventually I was determined to see my doc and she told me I needed a referral. Months have passed. Nov I finally got a gynaecology appointment. Within 3 weeks I've had smear scans, hysteroscopy, told my lining was too thick, I had visual changes. I had another hysteroscopy in theatre last week 2 biopsies taken. My smear came back a couple of days ago with positive hpv result. Biopsies results told usually 4 to 6  weeks, the surgeon just said I don't think it looks sinister. So I'm believing her. Yet this hpv doesn't state high or low risk. I've already possibly had it over two years, maybe off and on or continuosly, I'll never know. Worrying me. So I know how your feeling. This is why I read about it. My understanding is, if it's highrisk and doesn't clear it can mutate the cells and can become cancerous which could take years. If it's low risk, it presents itself with whart's which I don't have. I have spotting, burning, discharge and pain, discomfort. I originally thought I'd got recurrent thrush or maybe bv. No treatment worked. My doc gave me hrt and steroid cream. Just a waiting game for my biopsy results, they've already booked me in for another smear. I'm trying not to worry. 

Can changes in hormones from having your baby increase your amount of discharge. Like I said I'm no doc. You can have your hormones checked but probably can't why the NHS is under all this pressure. Let's hope when you have your next smear the hpv as cleared and your body as regulated your hormones. All the best. 

Hi wellstone

I’m not sure if you’re aware that there are more than 100 strains of HPV, of which around 14 could potentially cause cancer. If you have tested positive for HPV at a smear then it will be high risk, as these are the strains tested for. Low risk strains could cause things like genital warts which are not connected to cancer. You will never be able to tell when you picked up the virus or from whom you got it. 

Having  high risk HPV means there is a CHANCE that this could cause cervical cell changes, but it’s by no means a certainty. You can carry high risk HPV and have no abnormal cells. But it’s important to remember that these are NOT cancer and can be either monitored or removed depending on the severity of changes. The biopsy will give the answers. 

Hi Wellstone

There is a real lack of knowledge or education around HPV in general and I didn’t know much at all about it a few years ago. Following my cancer diagnosis I made it a priority to educate myself as I know that my cancer was caused by the virus. I don’t think doctors are particularly good at explaining it or telling women fully what their results mean-just my opinion. 

There is no “cure” for the virus so you will always have it, but the aim is to keep your immune system strong to try and keep it dormant. Try not to worry too much until you get your results back. You’ve had a number of investigations, so you should have answers soon. I’ll do my best to help with anything, bearing in mind I’m not a medical professional- just a patient who’s gone through cervical cancer twice and picked up a lot of information on the way! x