Abnormal Paps and HPV in Young Women
I know this isn't about pregnancy, but every now and then I feel the need to comment on noteworthy news for the vast majority of women who are not pregnant...
This month, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a Committee Opinion on the Evaluation and Management of Abnormal Cervical Cytology and Histology in the Adolescent. In plain English, that means that there are new guidelines about how to deal with abnormal Pap smears and cervix biopsies in young women.
The new guidelines have come about because of improved understanding of the natural history and cancer-causing potential of human papilloma virus (HPV), and because we have improved Pap smears (liquid-based) and high-risk HPV DNA testing available to us now. The net result is that we are finally able to say that most HPV-related problems in young women are unlikely to cause cancer, and we are comfortable using the new tools to follow the abnormalities conservatively rather than treat them aggressively unnecessarily.
This is good news, because most HPV infections and their resulting abnormalities will resolve on their own without treatment. The treatments (cryotherapy, laser, and LEEP) are known to increase the risk of damage to the cervix, and it seems prudent to limit these procedures in the relatively young.
The bottom line here is that if you or your young daughter's Pap smear is abnormal, it is now reasonable to take a more conservative approach to managing these lesions without a fear of cancer developing. Such observation requires good compliance with follow-up, however, and only well-informed, reliable young women should take advantage of these relaxed guidelines.
RW, MD
Related Topics: WebMD Video: Cervical Cancer Vaccine, New Guidelines for Cancer Screening
Technorati Tags: papsmear, guidelinesforpaptests, HPV
This month, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a Committee Opinion on the Evaluation and Management of Abnormal Cervical Cytology and Histology in the Adolescent. In plain English, that means that there are new guidelines about how to deal with abnormal Pap smears and cervix biopsies in young women.
The new guidelines have come about because of improved understanding of the natural history and cancer-causing potential of human papilloma virus (HPV), and because we have improved Pap smears (liquid-based) and high-risk HPV DNA testing available to us now. The net result is that we are finally able to say that most HPV-related problems in young women are unlikely to cause cancer, and we are comfortable using the new tools to follow the abnormalities conservatively rather than treat them aggressively unnecessarily.
This is good news, because most HPV infections and their resulting abnormalities will resolve on their own without treatment. The treatments (cryotherapy, laser, and LEEP) are known to increase the risk of damage to the cervix, and it seems prudent to limit these procedures in the relatively young.
The bottom line here is that if you or your young daughter's Pap smear is abnormal, it is now reasonable to take a more conservative approach to managing these lesions without a fear of cancer developing. Such observation requires good compliance with follow-up, however, and only well-informed, reliable young women should take advantage of these relaxed guidelines.
RW, MD
Related Topics: WebMD Video: Cervical Cancer Vaccine, New Guidelines for Cancer Screening
Technorati Tags: papsmear, guidelinesforpaptests, HPV
289 Comments:
Can a colposcopy cause any cervical damage? 18 months ago, when I went for my 'rush colposcopy' my doctor, told me he was going to take "chunks from 12, 3, 6, and 9." I tried asking questions through my sobs, but without waiting for me to stop hyperventilating (ab muscles quivering), he pushed my legs apart, shoved in the instrument, and warned me to stop moving or I would get hurt. My cervix has been extra sensitive and tender, since, and I'm terrified of letting anyone near there. Since I have no idea when I'll stop being terrified, I was just wondering if you could tell me what complications could be possible.
Do you have a special alert that goes directly to all physicians/OB/GYNs, so they know what the new guidelines are?
Do you think there are any doctors, OB/GYN who will resist this based on the income they receive for performing such procedures?
Can I still conceive and go through a full term pregnancy after cryotherapy? And are there any risks to my baby if I do get pregnant?
Since I'm not a medical doctor, I can't answer any of the medical questions but as a woman and a future social worker, I can't help but be extremely disturbed by the report of this young woman's experience with her doctor during a colposcopy. The behavior of the doctor at best has to be unethical. First of all, an ethical doctor would have taken the time to answer any questions, discuss risks, options, and reassure her about the procedure. Second, this post reads almost like a rape. "he pushed my legs apart, shoved in the instrument, and warned me to stop moving or I would get hurt." Now correct me if I'm wrong but this woman was not unconscious with a life threatening condition so that a colposcopy needed to be performed right then and there to save her life. I believe that under the law any person has the right to refuse medical treatment even if its something like a heart attack as long as the patient is conscious. So if the doctor had to pull her legs apart and shove the instrument inside of her, that doesn't sound to me as if she had consented to the particualr procedure at that particular moment. This young woman reports being upset and asking questions and she had the right to have those questions answered before she made her final decision. She also had the right to decide whether to consent to treatment which it seems to me she wasn't exactly given. Am I wrong on this?
To the young woman: I certainly hope that you can find a doctor you can work with that listens to you. I also hope that if you feel that it would be helpful at some point, that perhaps you can seek counseling. It sounds like this may have been a traumatic experience-at least it certainly would have been for me-and seek someone who will listen to you.
That was no doctor that was a rapist !
What if I alread had the LEEP procedure?
Hi, I just want to share my experience. When I had an abnormal pap, yes every woman should religiously have one every year!!!!! I was devastated. I found that many other women I knew had the same experience, just never shared it with me before. I had to have two leep procedures and many repeat paps and coposcopy's to make me and my doctor comfortable that I was in the clear. Since then I have concieved and had two beautiful daughters. I do believe that the damaged part of my cervix caused some pain management problems during labor, but it was worth it to look into my babie's faces. So it is possible to still have children after these procedures. What we all have to do is start educating young women about HPV and other STD's!!!!! I got HPV and Herpes one from a partner with a wart on his hand and the other from a cold sore on my partners mouth. No one tells young women about these dangers and what can happen to thier bodies!!!!! I wish that I had some one tell me before I ever consented to having sex all of the dangers and I would have taken better care of myself and insisted on condoms, safe practices, and possibly abstinence till I was really ready. For those of you going through HPV now, listen to your doctor if you have a good one, find a caring doctor if you don't, start taking care of yourself, don't loose hope for your situation, and share your experience with the women around you and encourage them to share it with everyone they know so that hopefully we can prevent this condition in all women in the future.
The only thing that bothers me about going to the OBGYN is that most of them are men..I'm married and I know that I'm not doing anything wrong but it just doesnt feel right having another man poking and proding at me down there unless it's my husband, doctor or not..And going to a woman OBGYN (in my past experience) she was very rough on me. Any suggestions when looking for one?
this is in regards to the comment made on 2:22 pm. I am very similiar to you. I'm not married but as I have been going to a gynecologist for many years, I always insisted on having a female doctor. Yes, in my experience they were all rough and more of an in and out procedure.
However, I had an appointment scheduled for the following year and the office called on short notice and said that the doctor that was replacing my doctor who was on vacation is a male and if I would still like to come in. Well, I was already heading over to the office so I decided to take the chance. He was very thorough and polite. Any questions I had he answered.
It does seem odd to have a man other than the one you are dating to touch or see you in that way but we must rememeber that they are well educated and want to help. Hope everything works out for you!
i have had clean paps for 2 1/2 years after a cryo yet the dr. wants me to do another biopsy? does this seem right? I left the office w/o even getting the follow up Pap I was so upset. Now it has been 8 months and i am worried that i have been risky with my health. Does anyone have any similar stories or suggestions?
sometimes we must take precautions in having these pap smear did. This is to me a monies gain for the doctor. I am 62 years old, I choose when I am to have a pap smear not the doctor, because who tke notice any better than you Be cautious when a doctor will not listen to you, get up from the table and spek stern and agressive to him/her and let them know yiu are in charge of your body and not them.
To the woman that had the horrible colposcopy...I would first call a lawyer, second file a formal complaint with the hospital you were at, third file a complaint with the medical board. You have rights, so be sure to exercise them before the statue of limitations runs out. It differs by state. This doctor forced you to do something that you did not want to, or were not ready to do. There is no such thing as a "rush" or "emergency" colposcopy. If anything is that urget, then they would have wheeled you into the operating room. In answering your question...generally no, colposcopys do not cause cervical damage, but seeing the manner in which you were handled, I would think that you have been damaged, which is all the more reason to file suit. From your comments, I gather that you haven't seen another physician since. What if you cannot have sex comfortably again? What if you cannot carry a child to term because of the damage? What if the damage is very severe and it damaged other parts, such as your uterus? It is imperative that you see a physician as soon as possible to assess the damage to your cervix. First and foremost, I as a woman and a physician would contact a lawyer. Never, never go through a procedure where you do not have all the information you have a RIGHT to have! You should have walked out and found someone to look at you. Even an ER doctor would have looked at you to see if there was an "emergency." Keep your head up and empower yourself to do something about it before he does something to another patient.
I have always hated going in for my paps...I havent been in for about 4-6 mths now. Every time I had an appt with my original OBGYN "something would come up" I would say and not go to my appt. Or I would conviently forget. My reasoning is because I'm tired of going and them trying to explain what's going on knowing that I'm only 20 years old and without a Medical Degree. So, when my husband asks me "What did he say?" whenever I do go, I just say that I'm fine. When I ask the doctor to explain it to me to where I would understand he gets frustrated. I just stopped going to that OBGYN and they terminated me from the practice recently because of "delinquncy". I'm going to my new OBGYN this week on the 15th for a pap and to discuss my birthcontrol I've had such bad luck with that too. When's it ever going to end?
For the person who said they got HPV from a boyfriend with a wart on his hand, I am 99% certain that is not HPV. HPV as a sexually transmitted disease, is from genital warts, which are different than other body warts. It is possible to still have the virus if the warts are removed, so not seeing one doesn't guarantee you can't catch it from someone.
For the woman who had the tragic experience, my heart goes out to her.I don't want her to end up being afraid of "letting anyone near there" forever.This doctor is an ass.He tried to make you powerless with his ego trip and you have every right to pursue legal action against him. It could be a way for you to feel like you gained some of your power back. At least get counseling. I was raped when I was young, and I agree with the others, this sounds exactly like rape to me.
It is your body and nobody, I mean nobody, has the right to do something you don't want. I hope you get help so you won't develop a fear of necessary exams; please know that if you are scared during a pelvic exam, your muscles tighten up and it hurts more. Please find out how to do deep diaphramatic breathing to calm yourself for next time so you won't hyperventilate.
Bless you.
Is HPV a form of Herpies?
IF YOU'VE HAD AN ABNORAL PAP - BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO LOSE ANY CONTINUITY OF HEALTH INSURANCE.
I HAVE JUST BEEN DENIED COVERAGE ACROSS THE BOARD UNDER ANY BLUE CROSS PLAN BECAUSE OF A 3 YEAR OLD PAP TEST THAT DETECTED HPV.
They used the details of the 2003 thin prep test as their guidelines for determining their inability to underwrite me under any circumstances. All I had was a colposcopy in 2003 - no treatment and clear paps since then.
I don't drink or smoke. I weigh 110 pounds at 5'3". I have never had kids. I'm 33. But I am having a hard time getting insured. I was looking at a $200 PPO plan at that.
I NOW ACTUALLY REGRET HAVING BEEN SCREENED. THE INSURERS MADE ME OUT TO BE SOME SORT OF LEPER - WHEN I CAN COUNT MY PARTNERS ON ONE HAND WITH FINGERS TO SPARE AND I WAS JUST GETTTING A YEARLY CHECK UP AS I WAS TOLD.
I'm with Cigna and they've been great through this whole ordeal.
I have had abnormal pap smears every three months for the last year. Does this sound normal? I am thinking about having a hysterectomy. Does this sound like a good idea?
To the one thinking of a historectomy...I dont think it's worth that...I have also thought about that then I went through the LEEP procedure...I went to my OBGYN this past Thursday and he said my Cervix looks like nothing has ever happened...:-) I think you should wait, but that's just my two cents.
Last year I had an abnormal pap smear and I had the LEEP procedure. It was the worst ever but now I've noticed sex hurts more. Also, my doctor just told me I have a retroverted uterus, I don't think I've had it forever because I researched it and I never had problmes with missionary or tampons but since LEEP I have. Could this be a cause of my pain?
Something I never see mentioned with HPV is that even if you had a historectomy you can still get it! I had one 6 yrs ago and I just found out 4mo ago that I have HPV. I just went for my 3mo f/u Pap and it is back or they never got it all with the lazer. OB said this is out of his hands now. Next stop the oncoligist (even though I dont have cancer yet). Has anyone heard of this happening? What happens next. I'm freaking out! Can this monster be stopped?
I also have been denied health insurance based on an abnormal pap smear (due to HPV), and am trying to go through the appeals process with Kaiser. any advice?
I also have been denied health insurance based on an abnormal pap smear (due to HPV), and am trying to go through the appeals process with Kaiser. any advice?
Just got my results from my pap after having the LEEP procedure in April...I FINALLY GOT A NORMAL PAPSMEAR!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!!
For those who are thinking of having a historecomy (excuse my spelling) It's not worth it...Get the LEEP procedure and just wait it out...That's what I did and I'm all better now...Much luck and many prayers from me to you.
to the peson who is worried about being referred to an oncologist. dont worry about anything until there is something to worry about. this is probably your physicians recommendation for better service, he must feel that an ocologist will better serve you, and possibly prevent you from getting cancer since you have HPV. Hang in there.
I have been diagnosed with HPV three strands that lead to cancer, I have several bad cells and a partial vaginectomy, I did see an oncologist and he said this may be coming and going for the rest of my life. I was diagnosed 14 yrs ago when I had the Hyster. Stress apparently brought the cells change?
I am now 40 treatments done and waiting 3 months in hopes of a clear pap. I will then have choice of radiation, or vaginectomy, and possible replacment. Has anyone heard of a successful vaginal replacement? I am not open to radiation as it appears it may lead to colostomy.
any suggestions are welcomed. I am also on a macrobiatic diet which is known to cure cancer.
concerned in FL
I had an abnormal pap about 3 and a half years ago while I was pregnant w/ my first and only child. I am almost 22 years old. I was told that I have HPV and pre-cancerous cells on my cervix. As a result they performed a colposcopy. It was pretty horrible, but I did my best to relax and try to laugh quietly to deal w/ the awkwardness and pain. After we received the results they recommended that I schedule an appt to get the cryotherapy. I believe that cancer must at least be partially caused by stress. Stress in our lives, stress on our bodies... I believed I could heal myself and that cryotherapy was unnecessary. I began to focus daily on healing myself in that whole area. Imagining that a ball of healing light is running through me pulling out the negativity. About 9 months after I had my daughter (she will be 3 in Sept!) I received 2 PAPS will normal results. Both performed by a very caring and thorough female doctor that I had recently found in a little clinic. I explained that I had HPV and that I had received an abnormal PAP before but that I knew I could heal myself. She was very understanding and encouraging of my views. I knew she was thorough and w/ those 2 tests I have even more faith in the power of my mind to heal myself. Eat better! Drink water! It is life! and try to realize that everything in life is ever changing...it may not be so great now, but it will change! Enjoy the good times and do your best in the bad times. Bless you all! I hope my advice helps...it certainly can't hurt and won't interfere w/ any other treatment you feel is necessary. Just have faith in yourself!
Check out this introduction article on Cryotherapy:
Cryotherapy
I am scared and unsure if I should
change doctors, or just trust...
I was diagnosed with HPV in 1999.
But then changed drs due to health
coverage. My new dr. never mentioned my HPV. I had a pregnancy
and normal paps, then came abnormal
pap, then another normal. Then
suddenly in the office he started
ruffling through papers, almost
flustered, and seemed like he never
even knew that I had the HPV. He
started asking ME when I had it, instead of looking at my transfered
files. He performed a colpolscopy, then a leep, and then HE consulted with a cancer specialist who I never met or spoke
to. Now he wants to do another leep only 3 months later. I asked
for my files in case I wanted a 2nd
opinion, and he said that he would
just transfer them. Can't I have
a copy of my own files, and what was with all the flustering and procedures so quickly after so many years of nothing?? He also said to me "Don't worry, trust me,
I won't let you die" What dr. says
that? I never mentioned death.
HELP!
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HPV A FEW YEARS AGO. I WAS SCARED OUT OF MY WITS KNOWING THAT I MAY HAVE GOTTEN IT FROM SOMEONE I HAD CARED ABOUT IN THE PAST. I AM VERY SERIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO SAFE SEX BUT THERE HAS BEEN THOSE COUPLE TIMES. ALSO THE THOUGHT THAT THE CHANCES OF ME GETTING PREGNANT WERE VERY SLIM HURT THE MOST. BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYIN, THE CLINIC I WENT TO HAD SUGGESTED CRYOTHERAPY SOMETHING HAPPENED ITS BEEN AWHILE I DIDN'T GO AND WHEN I WENT BACK THEY SAID IT GOT WORSE AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LEEP. BEING SCARED I NEVER WENT. MARCH OF 2005 I FOUND OUT THAT I WAS PREGNANT I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND LONG AND BEHOLD HE FOUND NO SIGNS OF HPV. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? DID THE CLINIC MISDIAGNOSE ME. HE SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE? HOWEVER MY LAST PAP CAME BACK WITH NO SIGNS OF HPV BUT SWELLING AND I NEED TO CHECK BACK TO DO FURTHER TESTING. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? PLEASE TELL ME SOMEONE HAS BEEN IN MY SHOES.
In March 2005 i had a cone biopsy to remove stage 3 precancerous cervical cells caused by the hpv i was told i had shortly after the surgery i became pregnant on april 26 2006 i had a little girl now 2 1/2 mths old its been over a year since ive had a pap should i be worried
When I was 18 I had my first child, when it was time for my 6 wk check up I had a abnormal pap. I turned out to be squamous dysplasia w/HPV. I struggled with the medication they had me on. It didn't work. I had several biopies.
I had gotten worse. I turned to severe dysplasia. I had the LEEP procedure in Nov 99 with no complications and have 2 other children. The pap smears since then I have been normal. Can a vaccine still help me even though I had the LEEP procedure almost 7 years ago and the4 paps are normal.
Has anyone had a Cone Biopsy?
I had a colcoscopy done because of an abnormal pap. Everything seemed fine then I went back for a 6 month check up and the pap came back abnormal again. Now my Dr. wants to do a Cone Biopsy. I am very nervous. I am 26 and want children. He had made the comment that he does not like to do this procedure on girls my age because it can make it hard to carry a baby. Has anyone had this done and then had children?
I am in the same situation. my doc told me yesterday that i have to have a cone biopsy done in 2 wks (requires outpatient surgery) after seeing my colposcopy results. I WANT CHILDREN! i am so scared that my cervix is going to be damaged and i will have problems having children. DOes anyone know the answer??!!
Good luck on your cone Biopsy Anonyomous at 9:55 AM
I go in for my Cone Biopsy tomorrow at 6 am. I will let you know how it goes. I wish we could have got a response that we were looking for for peace of mind before this procedure is done. Hopefully you will get a response before your procedure. Anyway I will think of you and pray for you. I sure there are ways to have children after this procedure is said and done. It seems very common. It is just the idea makes it scary. As I said before good luck. I hope all goes well. I am sure it will. Take care!
Attention anonymous,
I had a colposcopy back in 2003 and followed to a LEEP. Now I am 25,married and having trouble getting pregnant due to scaring of my cervix. I am now fully aware of the side effects of having a LEEP but back when I had this procedure my OBGYM had said I "would have no problem getting pregnant". Now I have had my new OBGYM who is wonderful and did X-rays to make sure my tubes were open and everything looked GREAT!!! He said my CERVIX is slightly closed can anyone relate????????
I am a scared mother of a 8 year old girl. I just had a pap and the doctor told me that I tested positive for HPV and that I needed a colposcopy. I just went yesterday and I am scared to death. The doctor has not really said anything to me. He just said that he will call me when the results come back in a week. I am so scared that this is a deadly thing and I do not want to die. Am I the only one who feels this way. I have been doing nothing but crying since the doctor called me with the abnormal pap results. And the crying has gotten worse since the colposcopy. Waiting for these results is horrible and it causes all sorts of things to go through your head. And reading up on things on the net confuses me even more. Can someone help me along on this?
Have had abnormal PAPs since 1997, with a few normal paps. Have kept myself out of the operating room and away from oncologists with natural therapies ... herbal remedies I made myself and now that my dr. orders for me, and healing prayer (the normal paps were after healing prayer). Highly recommend folks to fine their way to holistic ob/gyns or naturopathic physicians.
i skiped my period for the whole month of august and last month i was 2 weeks late and only had a period for one day i took pregnancy test some came up pos and some neg more pos than neg what do u think could i be pregnat or is sumthing wrong ??????? please help me i am so confused!!!!
I was told I have HPV two days ago and am looking for ways to best fight the virus out of my body. From my understandings that you can clear it up and stay healthy and theres a good chance it wont come back. Now that I have read this web site it makes me more worried than ever because the docters said if you stay healthy and have reg checks its not so bad. So whats the down low with this is HPV going to be the end of a helthy life or what?
I am not sure what the doc said I have or had but I had a daughter 2 yrs ago and when I went back for my 6wk check up they wouldn't do it because my ins fell within the same year. Anyway I came back the next feb and the doc said I had an abnormal pap. THe levels for hpv were very high but went he did the bio the levels were very low. i have had a cryo and many bios done but still nothing I go back in 2 months for a check up. THe bad part is My menstral bleeding has been really messed up since I had my daughter. Is it possible that hormones play a big part in this hpv and not just std's?
For all those out there also struggling with insurance...I can relate.
I was just denied coverage from Blue Shield, automatically based on my abnormal pap. And, they don't even know the details. THey don't know that I've had HPV (I'm now negative) and that I've had abnormal paps for almost a year. They don't know this and they STILL automatically denied me coverage.
Otherwise I'm super healthy. 23, normal weight, non-smoker, etc.
Any advice, I'm totally devastated by the long term implications.
To the others who seem to have suffered at the hands of doctors, I am so sorry for your experiences.
I believe healthy eating such as alot of fruits, vegetables and water play a big part in fighting off diseases. I started eating apples, pears, bananas, Kiwi's, watermelon and melon and all of a sudden the next pap was normal. I believe God gave us this land to eat of the fruits and veggies to keep us healthy. Be encouraged and by prayer, which is the key to all answered prayers.
i'm 18,married, and i just had a cryosurgery done a week ago. my husband knows that i had pre-cancerous cells on my cevix but i don't think he knows its related to hpv,he wouldnt understand,is it only caused by a std? or is there another cause? i'm afraid to tell him that i have hpv & its a std. he'd divorce me, he's 10 years older than me.
About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with HPV. I then had a colposcopy done and come to find out my doctor thold me on a scale of 1-10 (1 being not bad and 10 being cancer) I was at about and 8-9. Immediately after I had a LEEP done where 1/3 of my cervix was taken off. I have been having Pap tests every 3 months since. I think I have only had 1 that came back normal. I just went back in for my 3rd colposcopy and now my doctor want to do a CRYO because I still have displaysia (he said not severe but enough to give me abnormal pap tests). I was just wondering if all this hell I have been going through will affect my chances of getting pregnant. I am only 21 and still plan on waiting a few years before wanting one but I'm unsure if all this "work" will prevent me from having children.
2 years ago, I had my first abnormal pap smear. My doc decided to wait 6 months, retest and see if it had taken care of itself. So, 6 months later, we retested and it came back abnormal again. My doc kept me doing these repeated pap tests for 2 years with no follow up!!! Then, 3 months ago, I moved out of state and had to do my 6 month pap test at a different doctor's office. It came back abnormal again, so the new doctor did a colcoscopy/biopsy to see what was going on. It came back with HPV and high grade cell changes. So, I am scheduled for the LEEP procedure in just a few days. The point of my story is... if you feel like your doctor is waiting too long to do anything about your abnormal results, get a second opinion. If the biopsy had been done within the first two years of the abnormal pap results, it never would have progressed this far.
Last year at 22 I had my first abnormal pap. It showed low grade dysplasia. My then doctor wanted to do the cryotherapy, but after extensive research and statistics I learned "cryo" wasn't a very safe treatment plan because doctors can freeze deep tissue that can cause problems. I decided to do the "watch & wait" method. After 3months my pap came back high grade dysplasia, which is very rare. I then had a colposcopy done which results came back low grade dysplasia. I sought a second opinion over these results and was told by a specialist that there was a chance my 2nd pap was over read. I then had another colposcopy done that confirmed the first one. Low grade dysplasia. Treatment is inevitable but I am choosing the treatment plan! The doctor I saw last wanted to do the LEEP procedure but after extensively researching this treatment as well, I have come to the conclusion that Laser Ablation is the safest treatment for me and my future child-bearing days. It is the most controlled treatment and only removes the abnormal cells versus abnormal and normal cells. I'm still terrified though! Has anyone had the Laser Ablation done? How painful is it? How long did it take for you to recover? How were your paps after treatment?
to the 18 year old who doesn't want to tell her husband...
I don't know your sexual history, but by the mere fact that he's 10 years older than you I'm suspecting he's had more sexual partners and thus HE may have given you HPV. Men have NO WAY of knowing if they have it, so even if he didn't give it to you, he could have HPV (the same or a different strain).
Furthermore, do you know if you have high risk or low risk? If you have high risk you will have no warts, if you have low risk you will. Usually in high risk you only find out through abnormal paps. If it's the case that you have high risk then your diagnosis will not affect him at all. He won't have any symptoms, just like you won't if you have high risk. (It's called high risk because the strain that causes it is more likely (only slightly) to cause cervical cancer, BUT this can successfully be avoided if you get regular paps so they can note changes as early as possible).
What are you afraid will happen if you tell him? Is there an expectation that you didn't have any sexual partners before him? If not, then you may be able to explain that it's VERY common (some estimates predict over 90%) and that since men have no way of knowing in some cases they can't warn the women their with (hence it's NOT your fault). And, even if they could, condoms are not nearly as effective with HPV as with other STDs because HPV is not spread through fluid transmission, rather it's spread through skin contact (best estimates for condom efficacy is 70%).
And, finally, I do believe cervical cell abnormalities can be caused by other things, but HPV is almost always the culprit.
I wish you the best in communicating about this in the best way you can with your husband. Take care of yoruself.
I am 5 months pregnant and am very frustrated. I had an abnormal PAP, then another one a month later, then a colposcopy the next month that showed no abnormal areas, and now my doctor wants to do another PAP. He says that an abnormal PAP is not uncommon during pregnancy, and may clear up on its own after the pregnancy. He wanted to do another PAP this month. Here's the thing: I am paying for this out of my own pocket, he says they are basically keeping an eye on things, and there is not much they can do but watch unless there are changes. When I brought up that I was paying for this myself, he said that it would be OK to have the next PAP after the pregnancy. So what do I do? Do I wait until after the pregnancy is over to get another PAP, or do I have a PAP every month from now until eternity. Am I being irrational or irresponsible? Are my financial concerns influencing the doctor's decisions, or are his financial considerations influencing how many times I have this test? If the are just doing a "lookie-loo" and there is nothing they can do, why do I have to have it every month?
I am 33 and have the HPV Virus. When I was given the result, I also had Trich(STD) I am having the LEEP procedure next week. My sex drive with my husband has come to a complete stop! I'm scared to death to have sex with him. Is that normal? HEck, I'm scared to have any type of sex with anyone How should I be feeling? I have to children 18mos and 6mos, sex does not seem to phase me right now. But I do think about it because my drive use to be very high with my husband of 5 years. I feel lost. Any sugg.?
Had Leep and first pap came back abnormal. Have had two normal paps since. The whole experience is very unnerving and often the HPV remains.
I am 28 and this is my second abnormal pap smear within the last year and that I tested positive for the HPV virus this time and now my doctor wants me to come in to have a colpscopy and I am scared because I don't know what to expect. I was told that the procedure would be painful. I have an 8 year old daughter and I'm planning on getting married in the next year. Will this affect my chances on becoming pregnant in the future? Will the procedure be as painful as I was told? Please will someone who has been in this situation please tell me what to expect?
I am 21 years old and contracted HPV from my last partner. He told me after the fact that his last girlfriend had it, so I know for a fact that he gave it to me. I have had irritation, bumps, and redness on my private area and it is very uncomfortable. This has been going on for 8 months, and I don't know what to do. I haven't been to the doctor or got a pap done, but don't know the best plan of action or what to do. No one knows except the guy I finally confronted, I was even to embarrassed to talk to him about it bc when he told me he swore up and down he didn't have it. I really don't know what to do, I am in college and now my dating life has come to a hault. I'm mortified and hurt, what should I do? Is this dangerous, I've seen commercials on TV that said infections can clear up on their own. What does that mean, it doesn't seem likely.
About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with HPV and my doctor used the LEEP procedure on me, not for removing warts but to (for lack of better words) take chunks out of my cervix that had "bad" cells in them. If my cervix was damaged during this proccess, will that cause problems later if I decide to have children?
I also got automatically denied insurance when applying for it because of my abnormal pap smears (because of HPV, which I also had never heard of until I got my first abnormal pap) and the one colposcopy. I am actually due back to have another colposcopy but because of no insurance I am not able.
My advice to others:
1) DO NOT LET YOUR INSURANCE LAPSE. Apply for new insurance before or as soon as your old insurance runs out.
2) FIGHT FOR MORE DISEASE RECOGNITION. HPV is a virus that is spread to us by men. While it does not effect them the way it effects us (necessarily) we are the ones taking the brunt of the force of misunderstanding (emotional, physical and financial).
There is a new vaccine for young girls that we need to fight and vote for their ability to use it. Don't let others tell you that it is bad because it promotes sex. It may help save them from an uncertain emotional, physical and financial toll. As unwitting pioneers we owe it to the women of the future.
Fight your insurance agencies. Find articles that support the idea that just because you have abnormal paps does not mean you are going to be more of a financial risk to them. With monitoring cervical cancer can be caught right away and dealt with. Your health is at risk...do whatever it takes to figure out a way to get those regular check-ups so that you can track the progress of HPV.
3) FIGHT FOR NATIONAL HEALTH CARE. Even though this is a tough fight the benefits to national healthcare would be outstanding. Right now there are millions of middle-class women who can not afford insurance but who make more than the requirements for government aid and therefore are left harboring complications that they cannt take care of.
The government would have to help all women with health problems which is significantly better than having women be totally unsure if they have cervical cancer because they can't afford insurance and/or their insurance turns them down because of virus that they don't understand.
Also, if the government had to pay for all of the uninsured and insured people in this country you can bet your dollars that they would try to figure out a way for this virus to be fought in the most efficient way possible.
4) SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES. The more that we talk about the injustices of prejudice against HPV the more we raise public awareness about it. This benefits women who may make choices to have unprotected sex. Public awareness of this vital to the movement of increased knowledge and action against it. For instance, the virus which actually has a lot of different strains but only a small number react badly when transported into your body making your cervix think that it is superhuman thereby producing cells that think they can live forever (cancer). A small number of different strains of HPV cause genital warts. That means that even after marrying, even if your husband is clean of (normal) STDs and shows no signs of genital warts he may be carrying HPV (the high risk, no visible sign versions) and give it to you, thereby giving you abnormal paps, colposcopies and possibly cervical cancer. That is not ok. Awareness needs to be raised to help curb this growing virus.
I am 40 years olad and about to be 41. I had a partial hysterectomy and I still have 1 ovary. I want to have a child. Are there any procedures out there that can help me have a baby
I just rec'd my pap result and it was normal. But written just below that was HPV positive. I'm confused. I do not understand how you can have a normal pap and be diagnosed with HPV. I visit my gyn regularly and never have been told this before. My gyn now says its' part of the pap testing. More woman are going to become aware that they test positive for HPV. Where can I find more information? I'm confused and hurt right now. I'm married and just can't seem to cope.
I am 22 yrs old and do not currently have children. I had noticed many changes in my body and its cycles about 1 1/2 yr ago and had abnormal paps. I was diagnosed with HPV and I am just struggling with the idea that I am young and might never be able to concieve. I realize that it is a common virus, but at what point in time should you seek having a LEEP procedure? I use government medical provider so it is likely less thorough because when I was diagnosed, there was no mention of the LEEP or cyrotherapy. How important and effective is the procedure and will it be difficult to have children afterword?
It makes me sick to my heart to see all of the pain and confusion that arises from a backwards medical system! In the last few months I've had far too many people looking up my vagina only to give me no clear responses on exactly what was going on! But since then I have done a lot of research, and dating a naturopathic doctor has certainly helped! So here is what I've discovered:
- An abnormal Pap means the detection of abnormal cells in the cervix. This can be caused by the HPV virus, or by the recent presence of other infections (bacterial vaginosis, Trich...), or other factors (even cigarette smoking is known to cause the presence of abnormal cells)
- 80% or more of all people probably carry the HPV virus (although it is mainly detectable in women due to pap testing).
- There are hundreds of strains of this virus, only about 5 of them, can possibly lead to cancer. Most of the time, the infection resolves itself on its own.
- HPV cannot be 'cured', it is carried for the lifetime, but problems arising from the presence of the virus can be treated, and preventative steps can be taken to keep the vagina healthy despite the presence of the virus.
- the outbreak of warts, or presence of abnormal cells due to the presence of this virus stems from immune system weakness - stress, poor diet, emotional state of mind and lifestyle. Often addressing these factors will result in healing of the body without more extreme measures.
- The various treatments reccommended: cone biopsies, freezing etc., do NOT address the underlying reasons for why this disease has manifested in the body. If stress, poor diet and lifestyle continue, the immune system will not be able to keep the virus in check and problems will keep reoccurring.
- Natural remedies do exist! They represent a commitment: several months of taking immune system boosting herbs and inserting nightly suppositories into the vagina as well as addressing diet and lifestyle on a deep level. Avoiding stimulants, alcohol, caffiene, cigarettes, as well as trying for an organic, whole foods diet. But is this really such a chore? Shouldn't our bodies be our top priority? I certainly thought I was healthy before all of this abnormal pap business, but in retrospect, I see the huge level of stress I was opperating under, the coffee consumption, and much less fruits and vegetables in my diet then, than now. I see the emotional pain I was dealing with stemming from the loss of a lover with whom I had a strong sexual connection - I tried to suppress the sadness I was feeling, and so guess what? The pain manifested elsewhere, attacking my sexuality, where I was already feeling wounded.
So beautiful women! Let's empower ourselves! This is not a shameful, or uncommon experience. I am not happy with the way the medical system has treated me (I too was denied coverage based on my pap results). But there are alternatives, and I think I prefer them. I will heal myself! Love myself and have compassion for myself.
If you can afford it, see a naturopath. If not, take yourself to your local alternative bookstore and check out some books on natural remedies or herbs for women. Many of them have prescribed treatment regimens - Copy them out of the books if you can't afford to buy them! At least begin to look at alternatives and understand yourself better what is going on. Is a biopsy necessary? Am I freaking myself out without cause? I could go on I am so frustrated with how women are treated, especially in relation to HPV diognosis! But anyway, good on ya for seeking more info on your own. Keep visualizing a healthy, beautiful cervix and loving yourself and your vagina and get healthy!
I'm 21 years old and 21 weeks pregnant. My ob/gyn wants to do a Colposcopy when I reach my 23rd week. Is it safe to do while I'm pregnant or should I wait til after the birth? If they do it is there anything they can do while I'm pregnant?
im 18 going on 19 in april. I got married in august of 06 To the male who gave me HPV. we had no clue He had it when we met. He was dateing a girl. ( his first sexual Relationship) and she fooled around on him and he didnt know, Well about 6 months after we got togeather and started haveing sexual intercourse she spread rumors around his town that he had HPV about 5 months after that. well of course we found out the guy she was fooling around with had it and told her it was something he took medication for and he got rid of it. So she got it, Gave it to Him and when we hooked up he had no idea that he had it and gave it to me. Well They had been togeather for three and a half years and she messed around with this guy the first year... he never showed signs of warts or anything at all.well I found out i had it i was Devistated, so was he. He thought he was the worst person in the world. we got through it but we have been having unprotected sex as long as we have been togeather and we have never concieved. Yes we have a beautiful house, Doggs, and we are sort of like the "Dream Newlyweds" i mean the only thing that can make it better would be kids. im scared to go back to the doctor, I dont want to hear the words ... "Im sorry but your Pap test is abnormal" again. Im just Scared. The only bad thing is.... I was on my parents insurance when we found out, and when we got married he was getting layed off work so we didnt have insurance. i recently had a job at a grocery store where I didnt "qulify" for insurance( i guess i didnt work enough hours) and hes getting ready to switch jobs so I guess im saying i havent had insurance since they found it and im scared That Im not going to be able to get any. I live in Ohio, is there any Insurance that will accept you even if you have it?
question?
does anybody know if the hpv virus is sexually transmitted? my 18 year old daughter was just diagnosed but i dont believe she is sexually active yet. can it be transmitted through kissing her boyfriend who did have mononuecleosis this past year. thanks for any help...:)
puzzled dad, yes hpv is sexually transmitted. it has nothing to do with mono. Look up hpv and read about it. It's a virus that sometimes causes genital warts and sometimes causes cervical cancer.
I am 19 years old, and when I was 18 i had a pap done. the test came back saying i had clymedia. i was scared. I got treated for it. I didn't have sex any more after that for three months. I went back and they said that i had it again. i thought that was strange. they gave me another shot and some nasty meds to drink. after that i have had really really bad pain in my pelvis area. i only get the real sharp pain about once a week. i am scared to go to the dr pluse i have no job or insurance.
After i went to the dr the second time i told my boyfriend and he went to the dr. they showed him having no signs of anything. what could be wrong with me?
Cynthia and others with questions:
The best source to answer your question is your own doctor, but for general information and answers, try a visit to our message boards, where our experts and members will help as much as possible to guide you to an answer to your question.
I am 19 years old, when I was 18 I went in to the OB/Gyn to have my first pap. Well two weeks later my results came in and I had abnormal pap smear. The doctor suggested that I went in for a biopsy. After the biopsy the doctor said I needed treatment because the two pre cancerous cells were progressive. I did the treatment two weeks after and now i have the appt. for the follow-up pap next month. I am very nervous and praying that everything goes right.
to the many young women who are concerned about concieving after a LEEP or cryo...chances are you will have no problems (these procedures only remove small thin layers of tissue), you will be able to carry full term, you might experience some more pain upon delivary, but that is due to scar tissue. if you have had a cone biopsy you should also have no issues with concieving, however dues to the larger tissue removal you doctor may decide you need cerclage (suturing the cervix shut during pregnancy) it is a minor complication and nothing to be overly concerned with.
what is more alarming are the amount of wome who willfully skip follow ups and paps. these are life saving and organ saving procedures, in the end by not taking care of the problem you are only making things worse for yourself.
i have type 16 hpv...which turned into HSIL/CIS, i've had a leep and conization...i'm getting ready for another leep on the 19th. i would rather do all these procedures than chemo, brachytherapy or a hysterectomy (which i may not end up avoiding).
First off, I would like to give a gigantic THANK YOU to all of the women who have posted on this webpage. The courage to talk about having been diagnosed with HPV is superhuman- and something I have a problem doing.
Secondly, I relate to a lot of you. Every time I fill out medical papers and they ask "have you ever had an abnormal pap?" I always think to myself "Ha, I've never had anything but abnormal paps." I know its not something to actually say "ha" about and trust me, every time I think about how I ended up with this it brings me to tears.
The thing that really puts the hurt and distrust in me is that I didn't even know what the heck HPV was until my doctor told me I had it. And after I hear that I have it, I'm like "Why the F didn't anyone tell me about this? Why do we talk about AIDS, Ghonnorea, Climitia, and pregnancy but not HPV- the cancer causing virus?" And why weren't there public service announcements on TV until AFTER Merck had a vaccine for it?! I swear... I knew the drug companies could do some underhanded crap, but this... Well, thats the drug companies for you. I don't understand how they can live with themselves and I don't feel one bit sorry for their scum-sucking, money-grubbing butts.
To the women that have HPV;
Be strong. Take it one day at a time. Know that you are NOT alone- Even if that means looking at this page every time you get discouraged. I think that knowing I'm not the only one who feels they didn't get fair warning about this STD is what helps me get through the day sometimes.
Bless you all and God keep you in his hands. Thank you for your strength.
i found out i had HPV 8 months ago. after my boyfriend and i broke up and i learned of the possibilites that he had cheated, i decided that i should be tested for any and everything though we ALWAYS used protection. i had my first colposcopy about 1 month later and a few months after that had the cryotherapy. my f/u pap was normal, and i was so incredibly relieved. about a month ago i had another pap and to my complete shock it was abnormal. my doctor told me i had gone from mild changes to serious and aggressive, meaning i had a new strand. because of this i had another colposcopy and am getting ready to have the LEEP procedure. for a girl who waited until she was 21 to have sex and has only been with 2 guys, this is a lot to handle. my friends who have been having sex since we were in high school have never had any problems and i have been plagued with them. and i really feel that men need to be better educated on this virus. my 2nd partner assures me that i didn't get it from him, though he was the only person i was with and has resulted to calling me a whore, slut, dirty hooker and whatever other awful things he can think of because he doesn't understand that if he has no warts then there is no way for him to possibly know that he is carrying this virus. and he certainly doesn't believe that he can't be tested, "there's a test for everything," he assures me. i'm not exactly a weak minded person so his words dont affect me, especially since he's a scumbag and did cheat on me. however, i know i'm not the only person this will or has happened to so more information for men is needed!
i found out i have hpv 18 months ago and only had an outbreak that on time. i started dating someone 2 months later. 6 months later i notice he started to break out with bumps on his private part. it went away a week later with no treatment but would go on like that every two months. i haven't broke out with anything since that first time i was dianosed with it. what could this mean? could i have been missed diagnosed? or would i have a high risk or a low risk? what should i do? what are my options?
If you already had sex before, can you still take the hpv vaccination?
I AM 16. On 1-15-07 I went to get the results of my second ever pap and I was told by the doc that i tested positive for HPV but had no lesions. She siad it was a mistake that it was not possible to have the HPV with no cell changes. I nervously joked about having a kind she had not heard of. They retested my pap and Two weeks later she calls me to tell me that she was wronge it was possible. I have high risk HPV with no cell changes. I have been fortunate but cell changes can develope for me at any time. People can not spread HPV if they do not activly have cell changes but the only way to tell is to get a pap. GET TESTED. Not all cell changes are linked to HPV. Yes u can get the vaccine if u are not a vergin. It can prevent HPV if u do not already have it. The vaccine may alos decrease the severity of already present HVP but it is only a chance. After the shock and grief and shame I have tried to learn everthing i can about my condition. It is not a death threat. 1% of people with HVP get cervical cancer. As of 2005 20 million Americans had HPV.
Hope for the future and comfort of not being alone has alloud me to come this far.
Im 20 and was told this morning that i have hpv.i am also 14 to 15 weeks pregnant i am trying to read through all this information and none of it is making since to me is hpv warts or something else. and also can it or will it be harmful to my unborn baby? can some please help me sort this out?
To the girl who was rediagnosied with claymidia, maybe it was Pelvic Inflamatory Disease. It happened to me many years ago.
Good Luck to you hun
I am 24 years old and i was diagnosed with HPV about 6 months ago i was pretified i had no idea what this was not even my friends or doctor had mention it to me.Supposely it was high risk so t my gynecologyst did a biopsy as soon as possible then he told me that one of the safest way to prevent abnormal cells to become cancerous was the LOOP wich in my case was great i had it done but i still had no idea what type of pain or discomfort this may cause but it wasent that bad it was a bit uncorfortable. you may want to take the day of school or work to be able to relax and recuperate faster you may expect brownish discharge some bleeding and cramps and your period may be heavier than usual but always ask your gyno if you have any abnormal side effects. Also he recommended for me to rest eat very healthy like vegetables lots of fruits and after a couple of weeks to start working out and keep active not to definaly smoke this may increase your chances of obtaining cancer.
he also mention that i should take echinaccea wich is a natural supplement that BOOST UP my immune system, and to stay away from sexual intercouse for 3-4 weeks to use a condom for a couple of mothns to avoid any bacteria. no to use tampons for a while to.
AND MOST IMPORTANT DO NO STREES OUT AT ALL TAKE IT EASY AND DO NOT FORGET REGULAR PAPS EVERY 6 MOTHNS TO A YEAR THIS MAY HELP YOU AND THE DOCTOR FIND A BETTER WAY TO HELP YOU WITH THIS PROBLEM AND AVOID CANCER. i returned this month for a follow up PAP and thanks god it was normal i guess all the vitamins and the prayers help me out alot. i hope my advise would help you out may god bless you all.
Hey, I'm really new to posting up messages and reading messages. I've been making myself real nervous as i read about these biopsy's and the reason is because i had one last year. I had a horrible experience as well. All i was told by my Ob/GYN is that i had abnormal cells and that i would have to take care of it. I came in for another appointment, the nurses or the doctor wouldn't answer any of my questions, i just started having sex a few weeks before this. So the whole procedure was very painful. She laid me down, with no anestesia and started this biopsy. I told them i was in pain, and soon as i saw all the blood flowing, i started to pass out. They wouldnt stop and i was about to vomit. She slapped my legs told me to stop moving, i was crying for her to stop for just one second so i can breathe or something, she had another nurse come in an hold me down and they were both screaming at me to shut up. I am not exaggerating any part of this. I was too scared to go back, and i still am. I just read that there were other options. Im afraid i might have a damages cervix and im scared what should i do? (im literally shaking and tearing writing this all here, im very newvous about telling anyone.)