Hello mckin123

I'm sorry to hear that your most recent cervical screening appointment has shown that you have HPV and low-grade changes again. It's understandable that you're feeling anxious about this. 

In most cases, your immune system gets rid of HPV within 2 years. But in some cases, HPV may stay in the body for years. The good news is that the changes have been seen early and hopefully the colposcopy team will be able to give you some further reassurance at your appointment. 

There's lots of information available about HPV, cell changes, and colposcopy on the Jo's Trust website and I'd encourage you to have a look. They also have a helpline that you can call for support and information. 

I hope that you don't have to wait too long for your appointment and that things are resolved soon. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

Yes this has happened to me.

Last jan I had HPV and borderline changes.

Found out yest I still have hpv and now low grade cells.

I'm so disappointed and scared

I went to Colposcopy and the Colposcopy nurse said she could see the virus after putting this dark brown dye on my cervix. She said my case would have to go to a discussion meeting to see how they want to proceed but this meeting will not be until April. So I'm now having to wait for a decision which is frustrating for me. 

How odd, did you ask why the meeting?

I've got mine next Wednesday, just want it to hurry up so I know what's what. The waiting is just the worst.

She couldn't do a biopsy because she said my cervix was closed. She said maybe because of my age. I'm 62. She said either I would have to have a test in another year or have a leep procedure but they would discuss this at the meeting and let me know. I don't seem to be getting rid of this virus which is annoying. I did have a leep when I was 28 and then I had the all clear for 33 years but now I have the HPV virus back again. The nurse said they only just started testing for HPV so maybe I've had it for a few years, I don't know. My test in 2016 was clear, then my test in 2021 came back HPV with low dyskaryosis and in 2022 it came back HPV with low dyskaryosis. I'm so upset it's come back after 33 years. 

Yes of course you are. I'm upset it's not got better after a year, but slightly worse.

I feel like I'm on a constant watch and wait now for the rest of my life and it's really knocking me for 6 that this is forever.

I have to go next wed for my colposcopy, I'm expecting some sort of biopsy or treatment  

I'm 41 now and have had normal smears up until last year. Body just not clearing hpv.

They will either tell you to come back in a year or possibly suggest a leep. If they take a biopsy they will be able to investigate it further. I think when we are still testing HPV they hopefully will look into it further because our bodies are not getting rid of it like other people. Let me know how you get on with your Colposcopy next Wednesday. 

Hi mckin

You could have had the virus re surface at various points throughout your life, but it didn’t necessarily cause any abnormal cells, hence clear smears. Now that they test for it first at screening, you know about it.

I understand it can be harder to clear as we get older, but it stil doesn’t mean it will always cause problems. Once you have the virus, you will always have it in your system, but usually your immune system can manage to suppress it/make it go dormant so it doesn’t cause any issues, but you can’t “cure” it. You will have had it for years if you had treatment for abnormal cells before, as the virus causes these changes. 

In younger women, low grade changes are often left without treatment and you are monitored to see if the cells be regress on their own, but it may be that they will consider a leep treatment for you, hence your case will be discussed at the multi disciplinary team meeting to make that decision. 

You mentioned the nurse could “see” the virus. What she could see by putting the dye on your cervix is any areas of abnormal cells caused by the virus, not the virus itself. 

Low grade changes are not cancer, and the screening programme identifies these changes long before they would ever become cancer. So try not to be too concerned-the cells can be removed if necessary and you will be checked regularly to ensure everything is ok. 

Thanks for your post very helpful. The nurse put this dark brown dye on my cervix and show me the white patches when she put the light on it that's when she said that's the virus. Maybe she should have said cell changes. My cervix really reacted to this dark brown dye and it was very painful afterwards. I can't remember the year before the consultation putting this dark brown dye on my cervix and it never hurt the year before. My cervix is always sensitive when they prod it and I get a pain in my low abdomen. 

Yes, the dye will cause any abnormal areas to change colour so they know exactly where they are. The pain shouldn’t last, so I hope you don’t have it any more. Some ladies seem to be more sensitive than others to their cervix being touched.