HPV positive but normal cell result

Hi all

I had my first smear in December 2018 since turning 25. Results came back as no abnormal cells but HPV positive. This was a shock as I didn’t even know what it was and the letter didn’t mention risk type or strain just said for me to go back for a smear in 12 months. 

I phoned my gp and she said they only test for high risk so it is a high risk strain but she didn’t have info on what one... she told me not to worry but I can’t help it  

I had the HPV jab in secondary school so I’m hoping that worked at preventing the 2 strains it is meant to! 

Im concerned at how long I may have had HPV considering it’s my first smear and I’ve been sexually active for some time. I don’t have the best immune system and was recently on antibiotics for 2 months for strep throat which I think made my immune system even weaker during the winter months. I have also had a partner of 4 years and was worried about infidelaity but have been assured HPV can lay dormant for years. 

My main worry is that a year is too long to wait but appreciate it takes the body a while to fight off. I suppose if it was serious I would have been called back for further tests but the internets information is extremely conflicting :( 

The fact it’s sexually transmitted makes me feel so dirty. I have always been extremely careful. 

Parents
  • Hi racla 

    Hi completely understand your confusion. I’ve had my results back this morning and also had no abnormal cells but positive HPV. And my letter also didn’t explain much just like yours to go back in 12 months for my smear. I’m goin out of my mind with worry have you had any updates lovely. 

    Thanks. Chelsea x

  • Hi all!

    Just an update and thanks for all your responses.
     

    its been a year and I went back for my smeer before Xmas. Got the results within a week and it all came back clear! No HPV or abnormal cells. 
     

    My doctor did say that HPV can lay dormant and it can appear when the immune system is weakened. I was actually on antibiotics for nearly two months prior to the smeer that came back HPV positive so it could have been my weak immune system at the time! 

    since this all happened I looked into ways to improve my immune system as I was always getting colds or tonsillitis. I now take probiotics and a multivitamin every day and I haven't been ill since! Not even a cold this winter. 

    maybe you have been run down recently too which is why the test showed HPV positive?

    i also learnt recently that not all counties test for HPV yet it's quite a new thing. The old way is testing for abnormal cells so if you don't have abnormal cells they told you before you was all clear but you might have had HPV they just couldn't test for it! This could be why it seemed like a completely abnormal thing to me as none of my friends had ever had it either yet they had abnormal cells so they also had HPV they just weren't tested for it! It's all quite confusing! 
     

    I was worried sick but the best thing you can do is look after yourself and really it's a good thing to get tested for this yearly and monitored so that it doesn't progress into abnormal cells, and if it does it's caught so early that the chances of it developing into cancer is tiny. 

  • Hi sorry to jump on your post just seen this as I've had 2 hpv positive the first was no abnormal changes but the second was borderline. You mentioned yours was borderline did everything turn out ok?

    as I am really worried about this 

    thanks 

  • Hi so about 15 years ago i had borderline changes to my cells, i had those lasered off and and have been fine ever since

    then 3 years ago i went for a test and i was hpv positive no abnormal cells

    year later same result

    then this year i had my third (which was when i was worried it would still be hpv positive and possible changes to cells)

    but thankfully my third result was clear! No hpv anymore!

    if there is borderline changes hopefully you can just get them lasered off and that will be the end of it. 
    keep on top of your check ups always and although hpv will come and go hopefully your body will always clear it without making any changes to your cells again 

    hope that helps x

  • Hi 

    this makes me feel so much better as I've got a colposcopy appointment on Wednesday as I'm hpv positive but borderline cell changes so hoping they just laser them off like yours and it's nothing to worry about but I can't help but stressing over them I'm very up to date on my smears as I always have been since having them done, which I suppose is a good thing. Just can't help thinking the worst . Im a worrier anyway but this has made me think alsorts and im so nervous for the hospital appointment 

  • I replied fast as im a worrier too and alot of people post then dont follow up with how things went

    i wouldnt worry too much, i know its hard not to but my nurse said that it takes a long time for the cells to turn cancerous so as long as you are on top of appointments it should just be a case of catching it in time and getting them lasered off. Changes to cells dont always mean they will become cancerous either so im sure everything will just be fine. I had mine lasered a long time ago and thankfully so far nothing has come back but i also was very worried so i understand how you feel. Take it one step at a time ️

  • I've been Googling all sorts since getting the letter 3 weeks ago for my appointment but I know it's the worst thing you can do but I think sometimes it can't be helped. I have a neally 2 year old aswell so it made me worry even more. But your reply has made me relax abit so thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Like you say cause theirs not much info on it you don't really understand what it is do they tell you their and then about the abnormal results on the colposcopy also did you have them laserd their and then or did you have to go back?

  • Im the worst for googling then i convince myself of all sorts but honestly after a while i just had to stop and realise whatever happens is beyond your control and you just have to deal with it if it actually happens or you will make yourself ill. 
    you go for the check up and they should laser them there and then. I have two kids too and when you have kids everything just seems so much scarier you will be fine tho its just borderline and going regularly you're already one step ahead ️ ️

  • Yes that's it isn't it like your kids depend on you so it's a lot scarier thinking the worst outcome. That's what my partner keeps saying like think positive cause I'm going to make myself really I'll. thank you so much you've made me ease abit I'll keep you updated once I've been and fingers crossed everything is ok. Is it painful when they laser it off btw just out of curiosity 

  • Hi all

     

    I was the original poster of this thread and just wanted to say Ive now had my second all clear smeer (3 years after the 12month one, following 1st HPV positive one) 
     

    I really believe my immune system at the time of my first smeer was so low due to months of antibiotics for strep throat that the dormant HPV showed up. As it was my first ever smeer I had no idea who I contracted it from but it is so common (almost like the coldsore virus) that it hardly matters  
     

    It appears HPV is still as unknown as it was back in 2018 which is a shame but please try to not worry, and just focus on improving your immune system - the main thing is to keep getting your smeer when required and do not miss any. 
     

    For anyone wondering about supplements I now use Vitl subscription service which has probiotics and other vitamins personalised to me. It's £25 a month and I was paying that just for probiotics before. 
     

    lots of love x

  • Its not easy to not worry but worrying doesnt change anything so just gota keep thinking that

    i was lucky enough to be put asleep while they did it so i didnt feel a thing and recovery didnt hurt at all ️

  • It is isn't I think it's normal to worry about these things. We wouldn't be human if we didn't.

    oh that doesn't sound too bad then!, did you do anything for your body to clear the hpv as December will be my 3rd since getting it so hoping this one will be clear 

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