Hi Sarah,

I'm not an expert but I think that HPV can stay dormant in the body for years, so it could have been transmitted early in your life and never given any signals it was there. HPV is serious because it can cause cancer of the uterus.

You say your smear test didn't show any abnormal cells, so that means all is good and healthy, you don't have cancer. But since HPV can lead to cancer, you have a high risk of developing it in future, but it doesn't mean that you will. Some people do others don't.

I don't know how quick the HPV could develop into cancer but if you do a test every year you should be OK, please check with a nurse or doctor. I don't know if it is possible to cure HPV completely. There is a vaccine for tens now, but that was not the case years ago.

If you are not happy with your doctor's advice you have the right to seek a second opinion. The Macmillan Trust can also help with medical advice, they have a free phone line. Or you could ring the number below to ask the nurses here more questions.

Hope this is helpful. All the best!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I am very grateful. I will speak to my gp or nurse as soon as I am able, I feel so awful that my smear test was rather overdue though I guess prior to this one only reason cells would have been looked at if they were normal then. I wouldn't feel so worried if I had been sexually active in recent years as I'd feel reassurance that most infections clear within it says 1-2 years, it just feels a little pointless waiting for another year to see as it states if my immune system will clear it when I know that it must be a persistent infection because it has to have been so long since exposure. I didn't realise there was any change in the way they processed smear results and got a really awful shock seeing the hpv positive result and then all the information saying it usually clears in 24 months but for some it can persist and this then results in cell changes, I can't seem to find any percentage or risk that says of those with a persistent infection x amount is likely to cause changes. Once again thank you so much for your kind words. S x

Hi, I'm in the same boat, I've not been sexually active for over 10 years! 
ive just had my first smear since they've started testing for hpv. I've come back positive and like you I've been invited to attend another smear in 12 months time. 
I just don't get that if I've had it this long they think it will clear by next year? 

Hi, I have just had my second smear and its come back with the same results, HPV positive but no abnormal cells and to retest again in 12 months.  I was speaking to a retired doctor friend and she said it is almost certain that the virus has been there since I was last sexually active and thats been at least 15 years, probably more like 20.  She is fairly sure that it won't just disappear after this length of time so I am hoping, as its been there so long, it will just stay as it is and not cause any problems, apparently that is often the case.  I did read that if you get the same result 3 times in a row they can send you for a colopscopy to check that things look ok, hoping not but at least they will keep a watch on things and any problems will be picked up at a really early stage.  I guess that there are many people in the same situation now that they have started testing for HPV, hope this helps and try not to worry too much, like I said any problems can be dealt with and sorted before it turns in to something more serious.

Hi - does anyone have more information on this? I have just had the same result - positive HPV but no cell changes. I have had the same partner for 14 years and not been sexually active for the last few years. 
 

They have said they will retest in 12 months and most people will clear up after 1-2 years. Like you guys above - I must have gotten this with my current partner or before. This means I will have had this for 14+ plus years so it's def not going away in 1-2 years!!!  I feel like I am left in limbo and worrying myself sick as there isn't much info on what the risk is if you have had it for much longer. 
 

I get that I don't have cancer or the pre-cancer cells at the moment but I have just been told I have the virus that almost 100% of cervical cancer is caused by ... so my mind is in overdrive. 
 

my doctor reiterated that most people's immune system gets rid of it in 2 years but I was trying to convey that I haven't contracted this recently so I must be in the minority that retain the virus long term ... which is what causes the issues! I just wish there was someone who could help put my mind at ease... but everything I am reading just points to me being one of the unlucky ones who can't shift the virus... having the virus long term is what causes the cell changes no?? 
 

Surely there are other people who are going through this?  Any help would be much appreciated :-(

I totally understand what you are saying, nowhere does it tell you whether not being able to shift the virus will definately cause problems or whether it could alwys lie dormant.  Look up AHCC, they are natural tablets that are supposed to help shift the HPV virus with quite good outcomes.  I have been taking them for about 6 months now so will have to see what happens at my next smear,  May not be helping but its worth a try and they don't do any harm

Thanks Karen. 
 

It really is a complete head bend. Seems like everyone else gets rid of this virus in 1-2 years but my body is choosing to hang on to it and I now have it hanging over my head for the rest of my life. 
 

12 months also seems like a very long time to wait for the next one - even if I already know it will be positive!   I'll check out that website - willing to try anything tbh! 
 

thanks again 

I totally agree, I was so upset when my second one came back the same and if I've had this virus for years iI can't see it going on its own now.  I know its probably a good thing that they will keep an eye on it but the thought of having that hanging over us is unbearable.  I half wish they hadn't just started testing for HPV, would be happy that the results had come back negative for abnormal cells if that makes sense.  Really dreading this next one being the same and having to go for a colopscopy, if that is what they will do, I'm not even sure if that is what happens after 3 HPV positive tests.  

I have been told that if the third positive HPV result comes back they do then do a colonoscopy to be extra sure there is nothing there on your cervix. 
I have also read that if you have strain 16 or 18 it can be more risk of it developing but I havent been told which strain I have!? Not sure how we would know this?

I also agree that part of me wished I had no idea about HPV but I guess the screening is a good thing. 

I just wish I knew how likely it is I will get cancer from having persistent HPV. Not that it will change anything! 
 

I also wondered if you can opt for a hysterectomy to take the cervix away... but I'm not sure how rational that is or if they would even do it. 
 

my frustration is that I am in a process they have in place for the cohort of people where in most cases it will go away in 1-2 years ... and I already know I am not in that cohort! So I just want to fast forward and get some more reassurance! 
 

this is actually a living nightmare. I am worried I won't ever be me again as I'll just feel like that forever and never not be thinking about it :-(
 

Hi worried41

The procedure which would be done is called a colposcopy, which is an examination of the cervix with a microscope. At that point they would be able to see if the HPV virus had caused any changes to the cells, which could then be either regularly monitored or treated. 

Many, many people live with persistent HPV, but it doesn’t mean they will ever get cancer. Once you have the virus, you will always have it although keeping your immune system as strong as possible with a healthy diet etc can make it dormant, where it would not show on an HPV test. There is no cure for HPV, but plenty treatment available if it causes cell changes. 

You cannot opt to have a hysterectomy on the basis of having HPV. Removing your cervix does not remove the HPV, so it would be an unnecessary surgery. Even after having a hysterectomy abnormal cells could return on the vaginal cuff or vulva for example.

Having HPV doesn’t mean that your cells will ever become abnormal, but if they did, this would be picked up and treated in the cervical screening process. It’s really nothing that should cause any worry if you are attending regular smear tests. 

Hi Minska 

thank you for replying. I just feel so irrational atm. I have high cancer anxiety after losing my mum five years ago to cancer and there hasn't been a day since then when I don't think about dying from it too ... so the HPV news is heightened massively. Just feeling like my world has imploded. I have two small children and don't ever want them to go through what I went through with my mum. 
 

I appreciate your words and for clarifying some information for me. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of intel for people who have obviously had this virus for so long. It just seems to focus on the cohort that will have immune systems that will clear this in 1-2 years. I'm guessing that's because they don't have the data yet as have only been testing for under 3 years. 
 

You are right though - we will be closely monitored now which can only be a good thing. 
 

thank you again xxx

Thats good to know, thank you for posting

Thats good to know, thank you for posting

I was 43 and had normal smears but HPV for 2 years (I had 2 yearly smears) which the doctors said would clear itself. Also same partner for 10 years.

A few months after my normal smear I had vaginally bleeding and was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year. I didn't know at the time but 20% of women have a normal smear and cervical cancer.
Please if you can make an appointment to investigate this further by having a biopsy. You may have to go private but it will be worth it for your piece of mind.

I'm currently undergoing chemotherapy for a reoccurrence I wish I did something about my HPV sooner.

I've not been sexually active for 4 and a half years..I've been hpv positive last 2 yrs I'm so worried as there's a history of cancer on my mums side of the family have you any advice to help stop me worrying so much  

Everyone says HPV is very common and it is plus most people do clear it. I'm not a doctor but if you are a bit older (I was 43 when diagnosed) and especially as they've only been testing for HPV over the passed few years I would ask to be refereed for a biopsy or even if you can get one done privately to put your mind at rest.

Hi, 

I feel like I have found people who are wondering the same things as me!

I have been with my partner for 17 years. Always had regular smears with a normal result. Now this year, I am normal but positive for high risk HPV.

Pretty sure there has been no cheating etc. 
So I have been in the same boat of thinking, have I had this for 17+ years?! I feel kind of let down by my body, like why isn't isn't it clearing this? Has it been doing damage already? Like already advised it could have been dormant for years but I won't know because it wasn't tested for before. I feel like it is hanging over me a little bit because every time I'm happy, it pops up that it might turn into something. Yes, I am an anxious person but again I think it is like previous posts, I have 2 young children. I think I will look into the private thing but probably won't be able to afford it.  
 

Thanks Ladies 

Hi Saffy

You could have HPV for your whole life and it never cause any problems for you, you’ll never know how long you’ve had it or where you got it, but it’s just there. If there are no abnormal cells, what would they biopsy? Biopsies are performed on areas of abnormality, which luckily you don’t have. So, I personally would just continue to be screened under the smear programme and hopefully you will never experience any issues in the future. 

What was your bleeding like if you don't mind me asking? 
 

I have irregular bleeding all the time but my doctors put it down to the contraceptive implant. I sometimes have clotting too, and was bleeding for 12 days after the smear test but they don't seem worried about it as they said it's likely the implant. 
 

I also received a positive HPV result yesterday but no abnormal cell. Concerned as it was my first smear. 
 

really sorry to hear about the cancer. I wish you a fast recovery. 

I was I'm nearly the same position as you, had no abnormal cells every smear, then hpv was found and every one told me not to worry, then it was found the next year again I was told not to worry.

When I was diagnosed with cancer through abnormal bleeding a few months after my normal smear, I had been into the gynecologist and he had examined me and told me everything was OK. I was dressed and leaving the room when he said as you are here we may as well do a biopsy. It was only in that biopsy I found out I had cancer. The biopsy took cells from further up than a smear can. I was also told on calling the hospital to find out my results which took a month, that it took so long as we didn't think you had cancer.

My smear audit showed no mistakes were made in all my previous year smears. Its just my cancer was growing so far up that it couldn't be spotted with normal smears and examinations. It does happen in 20% of people.

With regards to bleeding. Not much bleeding at all nothing like a period, just a weird blood coloured discharge.

Hope this helps someone 

Hi Giggsy, 

It really does help and thank you for sharing your experience with me. 

I have sent my GP a message with my concerns but if I'm not referred I will wait for my next smear in a few months and if I am still positive then I will definitely go private to get this checked out. 
it may be nothing, but like you have shown - it could be something. 
 

I hope you are ok? Are you still in treatment? 
 

xx

I'm glad it may be nothing to worry about but you don't want to take chances with you health.

I've had 2 operations, 5 months of chemo and just awaiting another scan and will probably have to have further treatment as not feeling too good.

Hi all I've always been for my smear tests 

never before tested positive for hpv or had abnormal results 

now I've had both I've had a colposcopy done today & biopsies taken 

I'm so worried I've got cancer and y hasn't this hpv been mentioned in any previous smears I had my last one in 2018