Hi worried89

im in a similar position to you. I had CIN2 cells when I was 22 and had to have treatment on my cervix. Cells seemed to had gone away as I was invited back for a smear in 3 years. 4 years on from my initial treatment I was also diagnosed with HSV2. I'm sure you'll agree with me that this was possibly one of the worst days of my life - cried for months and still not really over it now. 
 

However, I'm in a loving relationship with a very supportive and understanding partner so I'm happy now. Just before Christmas I went for my smear test to be told that my HPV had returned again, like you I've read the same articles and I'm now worried about the future.

I'm only 28 and I do want children in the future and it just makes me feel really worried about it all to be honest. I tried to speak to my doctor who was pretty dismissive. I hate having those conversations anyway as I feel I'm now judged because of my diagnoses' (I've only had 6 sexual partners, 3 of which have been 2+ year relationships). I was wondering if you managed to speak to anyone about your cells? 
 

i hope everything is good with you 

Hi Monkey21,

Sorry to hear you're going through something similar.

Yes the HSV2 diagnosis was one of the worst times of my life, just makes you feel so dirty doesn't it, i think because you're stuck with it for life, but like you I'm with a loving partner now and he doesn't seem to have contracted it or if he has he doesn't show any symptoms. I don't have any outbreaks any more either so obviously i feel alot better about that. I just panicked when i read things online that it effects HPV. So at the time of my HPV diagnosis i called my GP to try an get some reassurance abour the HPV diagnosis but like you he was very dismissive. So i rang the sexual health clinic who were alot more helpful and explained fully anout HPV and how it wasn't something i should be concerned about they told me having HSV2 also wouldn't effect it so that did put my mind at ease.

Since then i had had some bleeding after sex, and intermittently throughout the month. I am on the pill where you don't have a break an usually don't get periods so obviously was worried about the bleeding. I had to really push my gp to do anything about it but I finally saw a gynaecologist just before Christmas, they said my cervix looked fine but are sending me for a scan on my womb, if that  comes back clear they will put it down to a hormonal inbalance from the pill, in which case i will probably come off it. Still waiting to hear back from my appointment though so i need to chase it up. 
 

As for the HPV its coming up to a year since my diagnosis so nearly time for my smear test...so I'm just hoping its gone away and the bleeding isn't related.

Try not to worry too much, which i know is hard i have worried alot myself, but i know at least 5 other women, friends an work colleagues who have been diagnosed with HPV recently, i think its really common. Doesn't make you worry any less though. I will update you on how my smear goes in the next few months. 
 

Hope everything goes ok for you xx

Good evening thanks you for your message , I also caught it this way from my fiancé at the time in my 20’s being uneducated and naive I guess.
I have always thought  it was hsv2 until recently I saw my medical records and it stated hsv1. I’ve jus t also read on my nhs app this hpv is high risk ? I think i need to speak to my gp as all the googling is just not making sense.. I’m so pleased your still living a healthy sexual relationship i hope to one day find a man who is understanding of all this .  Best wishes 

Have you ever been told yoir cervix dont look normal so refered to colposcopy? 

I’ve just stumbled upon this thread, I’m currently in a complete state of anxiety. I’ve had 5 smears over the years all HPV+ but no cell changes, I was referred for a colposcopy and results were still HPV+ no cell changes, I was then put back onto 3 yearly smears, which has been torture! I have my next smear next week which I’m sure it will still be HPV+, I also have HSV-2 which I contracted from my children’s father over 10 years ago, I found out he’s a cheating scumbag! However I’ve been worrying so much about my upcoming smear that I’ve been looking online… big mistake! I had no idea HSV-2 increases your risk of cervical cancer… safe to say I’m beyond worried now! Why would they make me wait 3 years?!? I just know it’s going to be bad results this time. 

Did you know you can pay for private smears? I would have them yearly regardless  now xx

No, I didn’t know that! Is that through a private clinic? If they put me on 3 yearly smears again after this next one I will certainly consider paying! The stress and anxiety of waiting and not knowing what’s happening with your own body is just horrible! The stress has caused me to have an outbreak a week before my smear, I’m pretty convinced my body won’t have gotten rid of this HPV

Yes I have both too. And once my smear is done in August if it still the same ill go private too if they do that to me. Crazy how stress triggers our breaks ive had enough too!!

What does this mean cauterising it? X

I think he meant burning the first layer of the cervix. 

I was diagnosed with HPV in 2012, probably had it years before that but they weren’t testing prior to this date. 
In 1998 I had cryotherapy on my cervix for abnormal cells and again prior to 2012.

After 2012 I then had abnormal cells again and had a loop excision. The consultant talked about a hysterectomy and after it being discussed at MDT it was decided against. I’m now 63 and in April I was diagnosed with HSV 2. I’ve now just had an abnormal smear, been to colposcopy and had a biopsy that was negative. However because the PAP test was abnormal and the colposcopy showed some abnormal cells, the consultant is once again going to discuss a hysterectomy at MDT.  At the time of going to colposcopy I was coming to the end of an HSV 2 outbreak which was on my sacrum, however I’ve read that this can cause an abnormal PAP test and colposcopy. 
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? 
I really don’t want a hysterectomy if the HSV 2 is skewing the results. I contacted the colposcopy clinic prior to going to the appointment to let them know about the outbreak and they weren’t concerned. I also told the consultant whilst  I was there but he didn’t mention it could affect the results. 
I’m not in a relationship of any kind and it feels like  I never will be now. If I’d been diagnosed with these when I was younger I would have been devastated. 

Hi, I’m in a very similar situation to you. I am 66. I had a Leep in 1988, they didn’t test for HPV then but I had abnormal cells. Then in 2020 my smear came back HPV low grade cell change then the next 3 yearly smears were the same result, they suggested another Leep in between that didn’t work and also suggested a hysterectomy which I refused at the time. Also my biopsy was negative for cancer. This year first time my results came back still HPV but negative for any cell changes. He did say because I was older that’s why they suggested a hysterectomy. I do have Herpes 1 caught from a cold sore from a previous partner when I was 27. Now and again I think I have a sore spot around my anus area and I put Zovarix on it. What grade are your cell changes that they are wanting to give you a hysterectomy? 

Hi, I’m in a very similar situation to you. I am 66. I had a Leep in 1988, they didn’t test for HPV then but I had abnormal cells. Then in 2020 my smear came back HPV low grade cell change then the next 3 yearly smears were the same result, they suggested another Leep in between that didn’t work and also suggested a hysterectomy which I refused at the time. Also my biopsy was negative for cancer. This year first time my results came back still HPV but negative for any cell changes. He did say because I was older that’s why they suggested a hysterectomy. I do have Herpes 1 caught from a cold sore from a previous partner when I was 27. Now and again I think I have a sore spot around my anus area and I put Zovarix on it. What grade are your cell changes that they are wanting to give you a hysterectomy? 

Hi. The letter they sent me states it’s gone to high-grade (moderate) dyskariosis. I had high grade in 2021 and then had a repeat smear in 2023 and it had gone to low grade. 
It has become more difficult for them to examine properly at Colposcopy including doing a biopsy. 

How come it’s difficult to do a biopsy and colposcopy? Maybe they are worried because it’s gone to high grade. 

It’s because I have stenosis of the cervix and scar tissue from the previous cryotherapy. 

Ok well you have to decide what’s best for you. As you said it went from high to low then high grade cells. Mine has always been low then went to negative but will probably change again next year as I still have High risk HPV. I can totally understand that you don’t want a hysterectomy, I think they try to push this on us because we are older. You can either wait another year like I did to see if your results change or decide to have it done. This is something you need to decide and maybe do a lot more research. I know it’s all a worry. 

I suspect it’s because smear testing stops at 65 and as things are at the moment they will have to continue annual smears indefinitely. Im  going to be discussed at Decembers MDT  so I’ll see what they come back with.
I’d like them to do another smear before any ultimate decision is made, as it has changed from low to high to low previously. 

Good decision let me know how you get on in the future. I’m 66 and they are still offering me yearly smear tests. I’ve actually got my next appointment booked at Colposcopy next October 2026 already. Was booked by them after my last appointment, they are saying they want to do the smear test and not get it done before I go. 

Thank you. I’ll let you know what the outcome is.