Hi Chloe, I had the same experience as you in 2016 - HPV positive and abnormal cells. I went for a colposcopy and then was put on 3 year recall. However last year I was pregnant so couldn't go and I've been worrying ever since. I also looked up and realised I should have been sent yearly or so it seems because of the HPV. I have my smear booked for Monday but for the last three weeks have had continuous bleeding so now I'm extra worried and I know they probably won't be able to do the smear either leaving me to worry a few more weeks :( please let me know how you get on. I might just beg them to do it Monday I can't wait any longer it's driving me insane! 

I will let you know how I get on, surely there must be a reason for us been put back on normal recall, as if it was guidelines then the colposcopist would know automatically HPV present yearly recall, and mine knew I had because she talked me through having HPV. 
I am going to ring my doctors and the hospital first thing Monday to see what my last result said and why i wasn't put on it, the hardest thing is getting the letter today on a Saturday and now having to wait a couple of days to be able to get some answers!

I found this on another chat - it may be of some help? I just can't seem to find a definitive answer from anywhere!

Cervical screening is done to look for abnormal changes on the cells of the cervix. It is done so these abnormal changes can be monitored or treated at an early stage. There is a risk that high grade abnormal changes if not treated can develop into cancer in some, but not all women. Low grade changes (as in your case) are more likely to revert (go back) to normal on their own.

Your cervical smear detected a low level of abnormality (low grade dyskaryosis) in some of the cervical cells. The next step for you now is to have a colposcopy  examination done to have a closer look at the cervix and examine the area of abnormality on your cervix causing the abnormal smear.

If the colposcopist finds that there is an area that may be abnormal on your cervix a biopsy is taken. This is to have a closer look at the tissue and abnormal cells. Depending on these results another classification system is used to describe the level of abnormality. This is called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). If the low grade dyskaryosis is confirmed on biopsy it is called CIN 1. In this case, you are likely to be offered a 'wait and see' option to see if the level of abnormality resolves (reverts back to normal) itself over a period of time,so you would have a repeat smear in a year.

If the biopsy shows CIN 2-3 this equates to moderate to severe dyskaryosis. If you had CIN 2 and 3 you would be offered a treatment to sort out the abnormal area.   

If the colposcopy is clear and no abnormal areas are seen on the cervix you will be discharged back to normal recall (smear in 3 years). In this case the low grade dyskaryosis probably returned to normal.

The majority of abnormal cell changes on the cervix detected by cervical screening are caused by HPV ( Human Papilloma Virus)  This is a common infection and it is estimated that most people who are sexually active will get HPV at some stage in their lives. Most people will have no symptoms and their immune system will clear it up in a year or two without them ever knowing they had it. It is not possible to tell when a person got HPV or how long they have had it. Abnormal cells caused by HPV can go back to normal if a person’s immune system clears HPV. This is more likely when the changes are low grade.

Cervical screening is very successful so as long as you go along for your appointment and follow the advice given everything should be okay.

I see that one of our moderators has put you in touch with another forum user in a similar situation. I hope it helps.

You can always give us a call if you want to talk this through. Our number is 0808 800 4040 and we are hear from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

That's good to know, but that says no abnormal cells found them you would be put on 3 year recall, but does that stand with hpv, it's a bit conflicting 

I might call that number this morning to ask x

Hi,

did you call that number? 

I have ended up researching again tonight as I just cannot shift the worry. I have come across this document. 
www.bsccp.org.uk/.../NHSCSP_20_Colposcopy_and_Programme_Management_(3rd_Edition)_(2).pdf (I think you'll need to sign up to the website to see it).

It is the NHS cervical screening programme by Public Health England. Have a look on page 84, there's a flow chart which basically says - smear > borderline changes = hpv tested> Hpv positive = colposcopy > negative,borderline or low grade with HPV = routine recall which I assume is 3 years 

its only with the other results of the colposcopy that seem to be 3, 6 or 12 month invite to check for cure. Tbh it's made me feel a bit better so hoping it might help you too x 

Hiya sorry I have only just replied I missed this.

i didn't phone this helpline but I had the callback today a week and a day later from when I phoned about my query about the HPV.

the lady said I was put back on 3 year recall as nothing showed up on my colposcopy and that they can see the HPV there aswell, she said it wasn't showing with me so all clear and back to normal recall.

but what I find strange is, I have my smear 3 years ago, it shows high risk HPV, then suddenly 3 weeks later at colposcopy everything's cleared itself?? Even the HPV

Yet 3 years later it's back, and is now with sever cells. 
It doesn't sit right with me? Can HPV clear then come back again high risk. I'm so confused!

anyway going to ask all this at my appointment tomorrow as none makes sense. I'll let you know how I get on xx

Hiya, 

Yes please do let me know how you get on tomorrow.

I'm still so confused but I've had to try and shove it to the back of my mind as I've still got a two week wait until my smear, which will then be exactly four years since my last one, and it was really starting to ruin every second of the day worrying about it. Have to keep telling myself that even if it's severe cells they can do loads to get rid of them! Make sure you tell yourself that too x

Good luck for tomorrow x

Hi

i was wondering if any one could give me some advice. I went for a smear test and it came back positive HPV , I'm really confused and worried has I'm a 53 years women and never had anything like this , iv had the same partner for 12 years and we're not very active , I had a smear test 5 years ago and everything was fine so I'm confused to when I caught it . Dose this mean my partner has cheated has I'm frightened to tell him until iv done some research on it . Has anyone had the same problem .

Hi Loran

first of all, no it doesn’t mean your partner has cheated. The hpv virus which causes abnormal cells is transmitted by genital contact, and is extremely common. If you have had more than one sexual partner you could have picked it up at any time but you will not know how you got it as there is no test for men. You could have got it from your current partner, but it’s not a sign of being unfaithful. 

Once you have the virus in your system it will always be there but can go dormant and not be active.  When it is active it can cause cell changes, although this doesn’t happen for everyone. It depends on whether your immune system can clear it or not. x

Hi Minska 

Thank you very much for your reply, this is the first time iv ever spoke to anyone in this way . It's just been a confusing week for me has it made me feel iv done or my Husband has done something wrong , I know when I bring this conversation up with him it might cause a big issue so I just needed some background on HPV first . But thank you again for being there and il let you know how I get on . Are you ok xx

Loren

Hi Loran

I’m doing really well thank you. There is a lot of misunderstanding about the hpv virus but never, ever feel guilty that you have it. I’ve never been told I have hpv, but I know I have because of my cancer. 

You would probably be astonished at how many people carry the virus..anyone who has ever been sexually active can get it and for the vast majority they will never have any issues, and men won’t even know. For some of us, the strains which cause abnormal cell changes do cause issues, but if they are caught early through cervical screening they can be treated long before they turn into cancer. There are more than 100 strains of the virus and not all are high risk..for example the strain which can cause genital warts does not cause cervical cancer. 

Please dont think either you or you or your husband has done anything wrong, because you haven’t. I hope you can have a discussion with your husband where he will be able to see how common this virus is, and that it’s no-one’s fault if they have it. Good luck! x

Hi Minska

once again Thankyou and I'm so sorry to learn that you have cancer has my delemora is minor to yours , I really hope your ok and please keep intouch has I feel better after speaking with you and learning this is common and I would like to be here for you like many people . It's my wedding anniversary this weekend so maybe not the right time to tell him lol x but il let you know how I get on and hope to hear from you soon to let me know how your getting on .xx

loren x

Hi Minska

once again Thankyou and I'm so sorry to learn that you have cancer has my delemora is minor to yours , I really hope your ok and please keep intouch has I feel better after speaking with you and learning this is common and I would like to be here for you like many people . It's my wedding anniversary this weekend so maybe not the right time to tell him lol x but il let you know how I get on and hope to hear from you soon to let me know how your getting on .xx

loren x

Hi Loren

Dont worry about it-we all have our things to go through which are tough for us to deal with. I had a total pelvic exenteration in March this year when my cancer came back, which involved removing all the organs in my pelvis. It also removed all of my cancer with very clear margins and my recovery is going very well, despite being left with a colostomy and urostomy! So things are really going very well for me overall and I’m very thankful I could have the surgery, even though it has been life changing. 

Keep in touch, and I’m on here often so will pick up on replies. Fingers crossed for your conversation with your husband. Just because people don’t talk about it you probably know lots of people who carry hpv and there really should be no stigma attached to it all. Xx