I had read some other threads about smears a while ago on TSR but they are all closed now. I remember Jamie saying they aren't necessary anymore until age 25? I just have a few questions about them.
I was called for a smear when I turned 20 (2 years ago), shortly before the age was raised to 25. I was a virgin then and told to come back when I had had sex, so I went back when I was 21.5, a few months after I had lost my virginity. I had 3 'inflammatory' smears, which meant the lab couldn't tell if there were changes in my cervical cells, and I was sent for a colposcopy. I was shocked to be told I do have low grade abnormalities and evidence of HPV infection. The doctor was very abrupt and cold and made me feel very anxious - he told me to come back in 6 months for another colposcopy to see if the changes were better, the same or worse, in which case I would need treatment.
1) What if I had waited until I turned 25, as advised by the nurse at my uni clinic? (I only went for the smear cos I'm paranoid about my health) Would the abnormalities have likely cleared up on their own or would i have got cancer by then? I remember Jamie and Helenia saying something about 'false positives' - is that like this? Or I am one of the few who benefitted from being caught early?
2) I've been with 2 guys - my current boyfriend who has only been with 2 girls he thought were virgins, and a guy I was with once - that time a condom was used and we only had sex twice - was I just unlucky to get HPV from that? Or is it more likely that I got it from my bf, and one of his previous partners lied about her history?
I'm just a bit confused and scared and I'd appreciate any advice!