Hi there, I have not been sexually active for many years, and was horrified to find out in a smear two years ago that I had HPV 16. It was monitored, but in March 2025 my smear showed HPV and low-grade cell changes, so I was referred for a colposcopy. The consultant suggested a LLETZ procedure, and when I queried why this was being done for low-grade changes, he said it was because of my age (59), ie I couldn't clear the virus as quickly as someone younger. 

I had to have it done under anaesthetic, as I was in so much pain in the Outpatient clinic that the nurses refused to proceed. I ended up in A&E three days later with faecal impaction causing acute urinary retention, so the whole thing was horrible. I didn't get the results until Feb 2026 and was shocked to read that they found high-grade (CIN 3) changes. I don't understand the change from low grade to high grade. I was also at Gynae Oncology last week for an episode of post-menopausal bleeding (11 weeks after LLETZ) – the consultant removed a cervical polyp, so hopefully that's all it was. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience with the low grade to high grade changes with HPV 16, and, if so, did the LLETZ clear the HPV? I will of course have a follow-up smear, which I think will be around June or July, though our services here are very delayed.

Thank you so much.