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In the dark about smears
What are smear tests all about? Dr Shazia Maqzood has the answers
Please can you give me some advice on my recent smear results?
Last year, after I went for a smear at my GP surgery, the nurse rang to tell me that my results were abnormal. I then went and had treatment at the hospital to remove cells. Something was sliced off (this didn't hurt and the doctors were really nice).
But I'm still a little in the dark about what this was all about - doctors never seem to talk very frankly about sexual health.
Although my test came back as clear, I don't know if this was to do with an infection I had picked up. Also, should I tell future boyfriends about it?
First of all, let me reassure you that if your tests have come back clear then you need not worry. Just remember to attend for your smear tests whenever you are recalled. You seem unsure about the abnormal results and are also quite obviously worried about infection. I will try and answer these separately.
As you may know, having a smear test means screening against cervical cancer. A smear test is a guide to what is happening on your cervix. It is designed to pick out mild, moderate or severe abnormalities. Mild abnormalities most often resolve naturally but moderate and severe abnormalities will require treatment, including one that you have already had, which is called a Colposcopy.
These abnormalities, if left untreated, over a period of 10 years can become cancerous and so it is always wise to get them treated in the first instance. The procedure is called Large Loop Excision of Transformation Zone (LLETZ).
The 'large piece of cervix' that you mentioned in your query is then analysed in the lab to confirm that all the abnormality was removed and that no further treatment is needed.
If in your case, the nurse has reassured you that all is clear, this means you have been cured. All you need now is to make sure to have regular smears in the future.
Regarding your next query about infection, there is once such virus called the Human Papilloma Virus, or the HPV virus. Some of its species can cause cervical smear abnormalities but three out of ten cases of abnormal smear have no relation to the HPV virus at all.
The HPV can be detected on smear, at the time of Colposcopy and upon lab analysis of tissue from the cervix. If someone has HPV present, she will need to have annual smears to be extra safe. If your GP has mentioned no such plan, it sounds reassuring.
Sexual partners usually share HPV. Out of many species of HPV, few cause genital warts and few cause abnormal smears. It is highly unlikely that someone will have the HPV infection with all these species. There is currently a vaccine available commercially for prevention against four common species of HPV. This can be given between ages of nine and 26 to women and to boys up to 15 years of age.
At Marie Stopes International, we provide HPV vaccination and facility of HPV and Chlamydia screening on a smear test. The HPV test can detect the presence of HPV even before there are visible changes in the cells of the cervix, which means that women at risk of cervical cancer can be identified much earlier.
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmissible infection, which is very easily cured, but if left untreated can cause infertility.
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