@pb50. Thank you for the explanation. I did wonder why it was advised all those years ago that you did not need Pap smears. I no longer have a cervix as that was removed with the hysterectomy as my surgery happened because of endometrial cancer. In some cases the cervix is preserved when there is a hysterectomy and I would expect that a physical exam (pelvic exam) and Pap smear would be done.

I asked my nurse practitioner during a cancer surveillance appointment if she does a pelvic exam on all of her patients. She looked a little confused and said "yes" as if, why wouldn't I do that? I told her that I've learned here from some of our members that not all providers do pelvic (physical exams) for cancer surveillance appointments. Here is yet another instance in which we need to advocate for ourselves.

@pb50 Will you please let me know what your doctor tells you about your test result?

Absolutely. I have always asked, and (frustratingly) am unclear what parts of our female anatomy are affected (removed, reduced, snipped, whatever) after a hysterectomy.

I had a laparascopic hysterectomy due to uterine fibroid tumors that were watched and determined to be growing at a rate that was concerning, so a hysterectomy (leaving ovaries intact) was the recommendation and was followed.

Anyway - (& that was 19 years ago), I remained unclear about the Pap smear protocol. I always ask, and am with a concerned gynecologist now, and have trusted her guidance that it no longer (after a last Pap smear a year or so ago) is necessary to do them. Part of it (I think) is my remaining anatomy left after the hysterectomy, but otherwise I'm not sure why it is no longer necessary,

In my case, I did have slightly abnormal Pap smears, a colposcopy, cryotherapy and follow-up prior to the hysterectomy.

I have just recently been found to have a precancerous Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia II/III condition, which is to be followed up with an additional excision in another month.

Not that that has anything to do with your concerns, but I did stay on top of these conditions through the past 40 or so years of my adult life, and it pays to be more than assertive, aware, read credible academic, professional sources for the latest developments, and hopefully find/have a gynecologist that you trust, with excellent credentials, working within a highly reputable medical organization.

I hope this unexpectedly long reply may help in some way - if nothing more than to say: keep on top of things, keep asking Qs, keep finding good, highly qualified, up-to-date professionals to guide you along the way.

Happy to answer any further Qs (that I can answer based on my experience), and wish you the very best.

Participating here is one of the best salves I've found on my journey!