This is a bit of a whinge but a potentially serious issue I think
.
Have finally been for a much overdue smear test with all the fun that involves. I have no VA but do seem to 'clam' up somewhat, not helped by my incredible disappearing cervix and the need for the nurse to manipulate the speculum at an angle to find it
. This nurse decided to leave the speculum wedged in place to walk off for a minute which added to my enjoyment of the whole experience...
Anyway, prior to the smear, the nurse was explaining about the HPV test and I queried her statement that if the test was positive you would be given treatment (or possibly a colposcopy, she wasn't clear) even if no signs of cervical changes were present. She waffled a bit so I checked when I got home and the NHS site says:
You'll be invited for screening again in 1 year to make sure the HPV is gone. If you get this result 3 times in a row, you may need to go for colposcopy.Worrying lack of knowledge (and anxiety inducing for some) I thought.
So I received my results - HPV negative - yay! But hang on, apparently if you're HPV negative they don't then go on to check the cervical cells in the standard way (as the risk of cervical cancer is very small if you are HPV negative). So I'm thinking to myself 'but can you still get cervical cancer if you are HPV negative?'. And indeed you can. So why oh why don't they do the flipping test? I mean, we go through all that palaver they may as well test the bloody lot surely? Apparently the standard smear test is much cheaper than the HPV anyway. Also, if HPV is all they're interested in, I have heard that it is possible for us to do our own HPV test which would be a far less stressful experience for many women.
This has been bugging me for a few days now and I can't decide if it's just me that thinks this is somewhat shortsighted. I'm not particularly anxious about it but, unless they investigate this further, many women will be reassured and believe that they cannot have/will not get cervical cancer.
What does everyone else think?