Cervical screenings and abnormal results. Just a couple of words is all it can take to send us into a panic and spark all sorts of questions.
One minute you’re going about your normal daily life and the next, you feel uncertain, confused and out of control. Following my own current situation as I undergo treatment for abnormal cell changes in my cervix, I wanted to share my experience and a few useful websites to help anyone who feels overwhelmed by receiving unexpected smear test results.
Cervical Screenings and Abnormal Results
When I found out my latest results on 31st March 2021, I received a text message to say a provisional appointment had been made at the local hospital. I hadn’t checked the post at this stage and certainly wasn’t expecting any results that would be different other than the usual ‘everything is fine’ letter.
Up until this point, I’d only recently heard of HPV from the nurse who performed my initial Smear Test, who mentioned they now test for it as a link to cervical cancer. I had listened, but honestly didn’t think it applied to me. Nothing had changed in 3 years since my last routine appointment and I had kept myself fit and healthy.
HPV Positive
When I received the text message to confirm a hospital appointment, I immediately felt sick with worry. I rang them up, hoping that there had been an error and actually my results were fine. Only they didn’t say there was a mistake. The administrator told me the appointment was following on from the abnormal cells that were found in my Smear Test.
My mind went into overdrive. What if this meant cancer? After the phone call, I felt completely overwhelmed, emotional, sad and confused. Up until that point I had experienced no symptoms and had nothing to suggest anything had been wrong.
What is Human Papillomarvirus (HPV)?
The Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a group of over 100 virus types that infect human skin and mucus membranes.
- It’s very common. Most people will get some type of HPV in their life.
- There are over 100 different strains or types of HPV and some are more high risk than others.
- You can have HPV for years without it causing problems.
- You can have it even if you have not been sexually active or had a new partner for years.
- There is no treatment for HPV. Most HPV infections do not cause any problems and are cleared by your body within 2 years.
Treating Abnormal Cervical Cells
The treatment depends on the individual but for me, it was recommended that I have a Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone (LLETZ), which basically meant removing the affected area.
This was decided after a Colposcopy at the hospital where a Colposcopist examines the cervix and affected tissue, with a team of support nurses. A black ink is applied to show the cells, and I had a punch biopsy to be sent off and tested in the lab. My results showed four areas which included both CIN 1 and CIN 2 high grade (moderate) dsykarosis.
Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone (LLETZ)
The LLETZ procedure was scheduled to be performed about two months later under local anaesthetic, which meant I could go home later that day rather than having to stay overnight in the hospital.
I went in for the treatment mid June 2021, and like my first colposcopy, the whole team were brilliant. They made sure to keep me informed, explain what they were doing and helped me to feel as comfortable as possible. The actual laser treatment lasted just a few minutes, so thankfully the whole procedure is nice and quick.
Now I’m in the recovery period, I need to rest and not exercise for a couple of weeks while the area heals. I’m meant to be training for two half-marathons so it’s been more of a mental struggle to rest and relax! It’s important to give ourselves the time we need though, as we wouldn’t want to cause any infections or damage that could set us back further.
You’re Not Alone
Around 8 out of 10 people will have HPV in their lifetime. Many people won’t know or have symptoms, but it is a very common virus. It’s easy to make an assumption or feel that HPV is something you’ve gained because you haven’t been careful enough. But HPV can be contracted through skin-to-skin contact, and it’s nothing to feel ashamed of. I heard that many people feel embarrassed or had partners who immediately thought they had cheated on them. HPV can be in the body for many years, so even if your previous Cervical Smear Tests had come back normal, this doesn’t mean you didn’t have it then.
The fact that most people will have HPV in their lifetime means we need to start talking about this more. Let’s get rid of the feeling of shame and get the facts so we can make more informed decisions and precautions in the future.
Cervical Screenings Are Important
Cervical Screenings in the UK are currently offered to all women aged between 25 to 64 years old. It’s easy to check our breasts for signs of changes or feel any lumps, but it’s a lot harder to monitor our cervix for changes. Attending your Cervical Screenings will help keep track of any signs of change and treat any areas hopefully before abnormalities can progress into something more life-threatening.
Where To Find Support and Further Information
Generally, I don’t feel as though we speak very openly about cervical screenings and abnormal results. Sharing our experiences though can help to put some people’s minds at ease. A lot of the time, fear stems from the unknown.
Alongside this, it’s still important to consider where you get your resources from though, and to focus on trusted and reliable websites, leaflets and podcasts. The following are a couple of places that I found really helpful, informative, and helped me feel more comfortable about the whole process.
- NHS Website:
- Jo’s Trust:
While I’m not a Medical Professional, I am happy to share my own experience if it helps put your mind at ease. Please feel free to send me a message, reach out to me on my Instagram account @nourishandmoveuk or add a comment below if you’d like to ask any questions.
