Does removal of the uterus and cervix mean the HPV is gone or does the HPV still continue to live in your body?
I am sure many women share this fear with me, especially those who had a hysterectomy for a cancerous or pre-cancerous condition. Waiting for your smear test results is nerve-wracking, especially if you were diagnosed with dysplasia or early stages of cervical cancer before the hysterectomy operation. After the surgery, you just hope you can leave this all behind you.
There are many possible reasons for an abnormal smear after hysterectomy. Those usually are no cause for alarm. Many changes in a woman’s body after the operation can give abnormal test results. Like such as:
Lack of estrogen can cause atrophic changes, like thinning and drying of the vaginal walls. Regeneration of the tissue after the surgery. Infections After radiation therapy to treat cervical cancer Reasons for hysterectomy and abnormal smears can also be:
HPV infection Cell changes in the vagina wall also called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) Vaginal or vulvar cancer
Women that had a hysterectomy for pre-cancerous changes of the cervix need their first (vaginal)smear 6 months after the hysterectomy. Usually, the next screenings are at 1 year and 2 years after the surgery. If these come back normal they can continue with a normal screening schedule. If test results return abnormal the doctor may decide to do more frequent tests. After a partial hysterectomy women should follow routine smear screening.
Painful smears after menopause can make many women reluctant to go for their regular checkup. Vaginal dryness at that age can make smears an unpleasant experience.
If you are really hesitant to go for your next smear consider asking your doctor for Vagifem. These vaginal tablets are a low-risk form of HRT that will provide short-term relief from the vaginal dryness.
Recommendations on the age women can stop having smears may vary from country to country.
