Second abnormal pap in a row

Avatar for spunkiegal00
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Second abnormal pap in a row
3
Tue, 10-21-2003 - 3:47pm
Hello everyone. I have a question/concern. I had an abnormal pap smear several months ago and they did a coloscopy (sp?) which found nothing to be concerned about. My doc scheduled me for a pap in six months just to make sure. Well I just got a call about that one and it's abnormal (same finding as previous) so now I have to go get another one in three months. What could be causing this? Should I be concerned? How many of you have had abnormal paps one after another?

Once a year was plenty to see the gynecologist but it seems I better get used to going more frequently.

Thanks,

S

Photobucket
Avatar for cl_opheliabug
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 10-21-2003 - 4:06pm
Well at least they are keeping an eye on it, that's really for the best!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2000
Tue, 10-21-2003 - 9:14pm

Hi spunkie,


The most common cause for persistant abnormal pap smears is the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is a very common virus that 75% of the sexually active population has been exposed to. There is no medical cure for it. All you can do is take care of the cervical abnormalities it may cause. Your paps will be normal while the virus is dormant.


The sad thing is is that many doctor still to this day do not mention to their patients or test their patients for this virus. The connection between HPV and cervical abnormalities was only made 10 years ago... and still some doctors are hesitant to bring it up, or just don't realize the connection.


At this point what is going on... is your doctor is waiting to see if the abnormalities heal on their own with time. That is why you must re-pap every few months. If the virus becomes dormant again, the cervical abnormalities will heal up and you will be normal again. There is always a possibility the abnormalities will become more moderate to severe instead which is why doctors pap every few months, just in case this happens. It sounds like your pap has stayed abnormal, yet is still only mildly abnormal... so there is no reason to treat the abnormalities.


You should ask your doctor to test your abnormal cells for HPV, so you know for sure if this is the cause. Most likely it is... because pretty much every has a strain of HPV in there bodies... its just normally dormant in most people so it cannot be detected in tests.


Good luck and I will keep my fingers crossed that these cells heal up soon!


megan


Photobucket
Avatar for ginners
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 10-21-2003 - 11:43pm
Hi Spunkiegal.. Megans info on this was very good.. I'd have to 2nd what she says. I also went through I think it was 3 abnormal paps before my Dr did something about it. I got a more extreme procedure done called the cone biopsy because I was done having my children and didn't plan on getting pregnant. THey have less evasive procedure they can do if you do not come up with negative paps. What you have to remember is the paps are designed to show Pre cancerous cells.. so having found them now and dealing with them in a timely manner is a good thing... it's when you don't do anything with it that it can turn into something way more serious. (This is why people need annual pap smears). It is not a rapidly growing thing so don't worry about the time period in between the tests. Mine was caused from the HPV virus, and I had chronic yeast and 3 babies so he said my cervix was pretty "eroded"... since my cone biopsy I've had no problems.. I've had negative paps and even a lot of discharges I had are now gone... Phew So hang in there.. they will get you all straightened out and it can take time, but as long as you are seeing the Drs when you are suppose to you should be fine.

Gin :)