Hi i am looking for some advice. In 2011 i had abnormal smear which meant i had a colposcomy. During the the exam the dr said i had a wart on my cervix and back to 3 yearly smears. No mention of hpv and no other issues untill february. My smear was a year overdue due to covid backlog and the results came back hpv positive with no abnormal cells.. read some forums including this one and relaxed a little. Fast forward to end of june and i have found flat growths in my pubic area where i would usually shave. Mostly next to hair follicles. I visited the gp and she didnt think it was genital warts. But i have made myself ill reading online so went to the sexual health clinic. They agreed one or 2 of the growths resembled GW and treated them with cryotherapy. I am due back this week for follow up but have noticed 2 more growths i think may have been missed. I am anxious all day every day and dont think i will settled untill i have a full examination down there. But i cant get any one to take my concerns seriously. My gp wants to give me diazepam for my anxiety. Why wont she just do a pelvic exam? And how can i get this done other than my GP or a refferal from her

Hi

There are many different strains of HPV, some high risk and some low risk. High risk strains can cause abnormal cervical cells, but these are different strains to those which are responsible for genital warts.

It is perfectly possible to carry more than one strain of HPV. Having genital warts doesn’t mean you will ever have abnormal cervical cells, and it’s good that you have had a recent clear smear test. 

I’m surprised you didn’t get the wart on your cervix treated when it was found-do you know why it wasn’t removed then? I would mention the other growths you have found when you go for your cryotherapy follow up. Can the sexual health clinic help with getting you a further examination to put your mind at rest? 

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  

A person can also catch the HPV from cutlery and from skin to skin contact and by kissing.

Millions of people have this virus and for an unlucky minority this can attach itself and mutate to HPV-related cancers.

3 months ago I had a biopsy and was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, p16 positive, after a Dentist referred me.

The NHS Advanced Nurse told me; "You've got this cancer from giving oral sex seeing it is HPV", adding, "And it's probably already gone to your lungs", saying; "I've seen all this before".

I was devastated.

After my op 11 weeks later of a partial tongue removal, the Pathologist's report states my cancer is/was NOT HPV-related!

And the Consultant then saying it went from a T2 to a T1.  (I knew it was shrinking week by week) but nobody listened.

Consultant continues, and adds; "It's good news, They've found nowt".

I'm still  trying to chase up what that actually means?

Does that mean I didn't have cancer in the first place?  Or does it mean that the cancer was contained JUST in that tiny lesion area and with zero margins?

Can't get hold of anyone since then!!

So if you've been diagnosed as "HPV positive" I'd strongly advise a second opinion.

There are HUNDREDS of types of HPV and some are harmless like the occasional wart or verruca.

All the best.

Cozzy1

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