Helloo , so I've had my first smear on the 4th January this year and I've had a phone call from my doctors this morning got to say I'm positive HPV too but they didn't say about my cells being abnormal. I'm worried as they said I've not got to have another smear until a year but I may need a camera to investigate further. 
I also had my HPV vaccine in secondary school to! I'm 24 and not 25 until may and they sent the letter out before Christmas and I'm glad I booked in when I did.

I haven't been sexually active for nearly 2 years now so god knows how I've got it but it makes me feel dirty to!

also the smear was very uncomfortable? Was it for you? As they struggled to see my cervix and had to sit on my hands etc.

Hi all

I have only just seen all these reply's, it seems the HPV testing is definitely increasing! I've read that still not all areas of the UK test in this way yet. It's normal to worry, I worried myself sick but you do have to look at the positives. 
 

1. anyone you know who's had abnormal cells before would have also had HPV they could just never test for it as a test didn't exist until 2014 

2. if you have HPV and no abnormal cells it's pretty much the next best thing to a totally clear report I believe there's a number of different levels so this is level 2 out of 5 I believe.

3. if you have HPV and abnormal cells that still doesn't mean you WILL get cancer. Again based on the severity it will be graded 3,4,5 still, this is not cancer. this is why they monitor you yearly to keep an eye on it and it's better to know than to never go for a smear test and not knowing at all 

4. 4/5 people will get hpv in their lifetime & unfortunately the test only works on women. Because it's transmitted sexually it feels dirty but unless you become a nun from birth the chances are you still have a 4/5 chance of getting it even with 1 partner. 

5. it can lay dormant for years just like the cold sore virus and flare up when your run down, which to me is kind of lucky as by getting a smear test at that exact time has allowed you to now be monitored yearly until it goes. 

6.cervical cancer is not a quick developing cancer, so if you are having yearly smeers now, that will detect if you start developing any very abnormal cells. 

7. By having HPV and no abnormal cells you will be monitored with a smeer every year which is actually a really good thing and should put your mind to rest. 

I also had the vaccine at school but I think it only prevented the two most common strains, there are many more so it's not a guarantee that the vaccine stops it completely but at least it should stop the most common ones. 
I do think more needs to be done to make this more known. Barely anyone has heard of it so when they get this ridiculous letter after their smeer it feels horrendous. GPs assume you know what it is and don't even call you to discuss it. I think given time and the more women who get this form of test done in their area, the more people will be aware. Since it's only been done from 2014 it's still a very new way of testing in the medical world. 
 

hope you all can gain some assurance from this thread, with covid the last thing you need to do is worry about this as in all likelihood it will be gone by your next smeer. Just focus on improving your immune system and try not to stress as that will not help your body. 
 

love to you all x 

[@laurenhayley96]‍ this has definitely reassured me, thank you x

i had my letter through this afternoon also to say I was HPV positive and no abnormal cells. Just thought I'd jump on and add my post too so hopefully if anyone else is looking like I just was, they can see how normal it is. I mean, I feel far from normal right now but it's nice to know that there are other people going through it too

Thank you so much.  This has really given me comfort. 
 

Hi everyone. 
 

I had my 3rd smear test in January. My first 2 came back with no issues/normal cells. This time, I have HPV but normal cells. I never had the vaccination in school as it came about when I had left school. I don't believe I had a low immune system at the time  I get a lot of colds but since working from home I've not had one!

I have so many questions. How many years have I had HPV as this is the first time it's been tested for? 
 

I also felt dirty, sick, like I'd been told I had cancer. Not that I wish this upon anyone but it brings great comfort to read all your comments and to know it seems very common. 
 

One main question I have is that me and my partner are going to start trying for a baby. I read one comment about being pregnant could progress HPV into abnormal cells. I can't remember which website this was on, I know not to trust everything online! And I can't see this information on the NHS, Cancer Reaearch of Jo's Trust websites. Am I right to believe that's not true then, am I wise to try for a baby? 
 

if anyone knows the answer, or has had a baby in between waiting for their next smear test one year later, it would put my mind at ease :)

Thanks x

Hi,

I am in the same boat, this is my second positive hpv test though but luckily no abnormal cells. I want to try for my first baby too, its such a scary time but we can still have regular smears and they can even do colposcopies when pregnant i read. i've added you as a friend on here if you want to message me to talk. jenny x

Thank you for this post. Its reassuring as its so scary

Hi 

I'm in the same boat I have a normal smear 3 years ago and now this time it's positive hpv but normal cells which again I'm happy about the cells being normal but so worried about this hpv as I'm just seeming to read scarry things which I no isn't helping but I can't help but panic. Myself and my partner are also trying for a baby have been for a while and this has just thrown me back and I don't no what to do which really upsets me as it's all I want  

I hope you get the answeres your looking for a good luck

Hey, I'm in a similar boat as everyone on this thread sorry if I am just replying randomly (‍♀️) 

I think I've just had either my 2 or 3 smear test (can't keep track!!) I have been with my partner for 13 years we are married with 2 children and my lastest smear came back no abnormal cells but HPV positive and oh my god I am stressing out! Where has it come from? And surely I'd like they say it can clear within 2 years does this mean I have caught it recently? Or have I had it the whole time we have been Togther? Could it possible lay dormant for all that time?! If so why do I have it now? He swears blind that he has not had any other sexual encounters and I believe him! But this is really messing with my mind and making me so anxious  is anyone in a similar position ? Thanks xxx

Hi! 

I haven't been in a relationship for the same length of time (6 years), but I'm having the same worry! My last screening in 2018 was totally fine, although I believe they hadn't started testing for hpv then so I'm also concerned that I might have had this for years and my body hasn't cleared it. I'm not sure what the chances are of that happening though so hopefully someone on this thread might know. I think the virus can lay dormant and when your immune system is down it can become active... Ive had a child in the last two years so I guess sleep deprivation could have activated mine but its so hard not knowing isn't it:( xx

Hi, 

yes I was told the same too I think they have only recently rolled out the screening program for HPV (2018-2020) I'm the same here I had my second child in 2019 so sleep deprivation again could have activated it for me too. I driving myself crazy Googling every posibility! I asked my doc and she couldn't really give me any answers which made me feel worse - she did say not to worry but it's easier said than done. :( 

Like you say hopefully someone in this thread knows a little more xx

Hi all,

I was in a similar situation - when I had my smear I hadn't been with anyone for over a year and I was worried that I'd had the virus for the whole of that period and hadn't cleared it! That may not necessarily be true, as it lays dormant. I was fuming when I read I had to come back within a year because it's such a long time and I was worried in case anything would develop within that time. I feel like there's not an excessive amount of information regarding it, I hadn't even heard of it beforehand so it definitely increases the fear. I was so upset and panicked for a couple of weeks after but honestly now I don't even think about it. Even if my friends have their smear and they come back all clear, the virus may not even be activated at that moment. It seems to be something that we can't avoid and I think it is much more common than we realised. The reality is, if we had the smear before this particular testing, we would have came back all clear and our next one wouldn't be due for another 5 years. So there are a lot of women that have the virus that wouldn't even know, which makes us feel like only a small percentage when in reality i think it's much larger than we anticipate. Try not to stress about it, as stress will only weaken the immune system and activate the virus, I know it's easier said then done but you want to live peacefully for the year and not in fear. My next smear is coming up around August/September time so I will keep you updated with how I get on x 

Hi all,

I was in a similar situation - when I had my smear I hadn't been with anyone for over a year and I was worried that I'd had the virus for the whole of that period and hadn't cleared it! That may not necessarily be true, as it lays dormant. I was fuming when I read I had to come back within a year because it's such a long time and I was worried in case anything would develop within that time. I feel like there's not an excessive amount of information regarding it, I hadn't even heard of it beforehand so it definitely increases the fear. I was so upset and panicked for a couple of weeks after but honestly now I don't even think about it. Even if my friends have their smear and they come back all clear, the virus may not even be activated at that moment. It seems to be something that we can't avoid and I think it is much more common than we realised. The reality is, if we had the smear before this particular testing, we would have came back all clear and our next one wouldn't be due for another 5 years. So there are a lot of women that have the virus that wouldn't even know, which makes us feel like only a small percentage when in reality i think it's much larger than we anticipate. Try not to stress about it, as stress will only weaken the immune system and activate the virus, I know it's easier said then done but you want to live peacefully for the year and not in fear. My next smear is coming up around August/September time so I will keep you updated with how I get on x