u/Numerous-Courage4748

I made a post before my follow up appointment here https://www.reddit.com/r/HPV/s/aYBN6aIXAE

I wanted to give the good news to the community that my LSIL went back to normal despite having HPV 16. Some context and what happened/ what I did (because I know people find that useful)

- Aged 34f, non smoker, a routine pap smear Feb 2024, normal cells, high risk HPV +. All previous routine paps had been normal and HPV -

- March 2025 follow up pap shows pap 3a2 (definitely abnormal, likely HSIL CIN 2/3, no cancer detected)

- March 2025 colposcopy impression HSIL. Two biopsy samples taken, one no dysplasia, one mild dysplasia. Conclusion in April 2025: CIN 1, LSIL. Advice - follow up pap in 3 months

- Summer 2025, mental health took nosedive, couldn't face going back to gynaecologist.

- April 2026 (aged 36) finally scheduled follow up pap. May 2026 results: Pap 1, normal, no dysplasia. HPV + HPV 16 and other non-named strains identified (no 18). Conclusion- follow up pap in 12 months + Gardasil 9 vaccine.

What I did:

Not much. I have a sedentary and stressful job, I don't smoke, I eat quite healthy (lots of fibre, fruit, veg, and protein), I didn't change my drinking habits (weekends, social occasions, get drunk maybe once every 6 - 12 months at a party with friends), rarely drink Monday-Thursday unless on holiday. Swimming regularly in summer, dance class weekly, since February circuit training 1-2x per week.

Anemia detected last summer and take iron supplements.

No other supplements at all.

How I felt:

Very very stressed around the time of the appointments. Confused, not supported by medical staff.

What I did- made a list of questions/ concerns, follow up appointment much better.

Thanks to the comments in my previous thread which reassured me. This Reddit community has been very supportive and I've tried to give back with supportive comments and my experience/ research. Now I'm going to stop interacting with the HPV community for a while to get a breather from all of this and tap out for the sake of my mental health, but thanks all and look after yourselves!

Two years and 3 months ago (February 2024) I got a routine HPV and pap smear on the NHS. They said if there were abnormal cells I would get a letter. I got no letter, assumed everything was fine. However, I am very cautious about getting tested for STDS and everything and I went to my GP reception to check the results saying I never heard. They said you tested positive for HPV but there were no abnormal cells so you just need to test again in one year. One year later (February 2025) I went for a pap in the Netherlands because I moved there. The results came back HPV positive (strain not identified) and Pap 3a2. I scheduled a colposcopy which took place 1 month later at hospital. The gynaecologist was super serious and freaked me out totally, she did two biopsy samples to be sure and said I should prepare myself for HSIL but she saw nothing to suggest any progression to cancer. Biopsy came back LSIL - one biopsy found no abnormal cells except for something that can be caused by the pill (which I am on), the other biopsy found some cells indicating mild dysplasia CIN 1. They said I should go for another pap in 3 months. My mental health dropped off the map last summer and I just couldn't cope with doing it all over again. Finally I have scheduled an appointment for May and now worrying I have cancer. Worse still when I disclosed to a partner last year, he freaked out and it made me feel so much shame and awful. Can you give me any reassurance?