Hi everyone, 

I'm just posting on here to tell of my experience after an abnormal smear result.

I had annual smears for 3 years due to testing positive for HPV in the first year (my first ever screening at 26 y/o) My 3rd screening this year came back as hpv positive still and borderline cell changes.

I went for my colposcopy in late September and they took 2 biopsies to send off, the histology report came back 3 weeks later as CIN2 which I wasn't really expecting but its okay. As far as the biopsies go they were uncomfortable but not unbearable, had period like cramps for a couple of days, a bit of bleeding but not much at all. When you go for the colposcopy they will put a solution on your cervix which changes the abnormal cells to a white colour so they can see where they are located, this stings a little but still not painful. They asked me to cough when they took the sample which is meant to stop it being uncomfortable. You can watch it all on the screen but im pretty squeamish so I asked them to turn it away.

I went back yesterday for my LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone). Initially I was super nervous but I think its just because I didnt know what to expect. The gynecologist made me feel so at ease straight away and the senior nurse was lovely. The procedure started with them putting a solution on my cervix again, followed by the anaesthetic which is local and is injected into the cervix. I actually didn't feel this, but my heart started going pretty fast but this is due to the small amount of adrenaline in the injection so all was okay as this was explained to me by the lovely staff there. 

Then a large sticky pad was stuck to my leg before the treatment began which I can only assume stops the equipment from passing an electrical current through the body. But anyway, it was explained I should feel no pain just some heat and some pressure. But to be honest I felt none of it which I'm very grateful for. I'm a very anxious person but honestly it was such an easy procedure for me in terms of feeling little to no discomfort. The only slightly uncomfortable part was having the speculum inserted because I was tense and nervous, but after a few deep breaths it was fine. And the whole treatment was over in 15 minutes. Today I'm only feeling a slight ache in my pelvic area and small amounts of blood but I am expecting this will probably get heavier. I get the results in 2 to 4 weeks, the removed tissue will be checked for clear margins (where the area of abnormal cells are, I believe this means to ensure they haven't left any behind) all being well and them being removed I will have another smear test/ cervical screening in 6 months time to ensure the abnormal cells have not returned.

I just wanted to share my experience in case it makes anyone feel more at ease if they have to have the same treatment. And remember these things are preventative the idea is to remove the abnormal cells before they have the chance to turn cancerous.