hello. I just got a letter in the mail and I found this board and thought it might help me calm down. I just got married two months ago and was very happy til I got my first abnormal pap saying I have dysplasia and I have an appointment next week to do a colposcopy or something like that to look at the lesion. I tested positive for high risk hpv. I have never had any symptoms of anything and am only in my twenties..I was planning on trying to have kids in a year and now all I can think is what if I cant have any kids now. I know I might be overreacting but I am worried and maybe one of you can give me some advice. I have not be able to sleep and dont know how I can wait a whole nother week til I go back to the doctor .:(

Hi Sarmee. I know it is scary when you first hear that you have dysplasia. Do you get regular paps? Try to keep your mind off it, sooooo many woman have this and in most cases dysplasia is treatable. You will have more info at the time of your colposcopy and at that point can move forward. Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you for replying. I get a pap done every year. I was wondering there are three different types of procedures that I found on the internet...LEEP, freezing the cells..and laser..anyone know which one is better or has shown better results..it looks like alot of you have Leep done. I will know more after my next exam I am sure.

IMHO, I think the LEEP better for a couple different reasons. 1. It is more accurate in getting affected tissue--it is about 90% effective in removing all abnormal cells and has a very low recurrence rate. 2. The tissue from the LEEP can be pathologically tested. Freezing is notoriously not as effective--the doc can't SEE if all cells were removed and, because the cells "slough" off over a period of time after the procedure, it's impossible for the doc to know if the entire lesion was treated. There's a higher recurrence rate with freezing.

In 2005, my pap showed LGSIL (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) with high-risk HPV. I had a colposcopy. 6 biopsies were taken and an ECC (endocervical curettage) was performed. Doc prepared me for a cancer dx. Results were HGSIL (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) affecting 60% of my exposed cervix. I had a LEEP with cone biopsy since I had major endocervical involvement. The margins were clear--doc got all cells. I had to get paps every 6 months after that. All were normal until now. My pap in May just showed ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance). In terms of "bad" pap results, this is the best to have. Most of the time it means NOTHING. However, because of my history, I'm very worried. The *good* thing is that the HPV test was negative.

Anyhow, good luck at your colpo. I found the whole thing to be completely painless and quick. Your doc will get a VERY good idea of what is going on at the colpo so you won't have to wonder. Bring questions to ask and make sure you discuss the treatments he/she uses.

Take care!

Thank you. I wish you the best as well. I think from what research I have done Leep would be my first choice if cells need to be removed. That is so awesome that the hpv is gone..have you been on any special diets or vitamins? I am trying to change my diet and take more vitamins and work out more. I have a stressful sales job so that hasnt been helping much.

Hi Sarmee, your treatment options really depend on the grade of the dysplasia. If it is low grade, chances are they will wait it out and have you come back in 3 to 6 months later. If it is moderate, they may recommend either Cryo or LEEP and if its high grade (what I had) they will more than liely recommend the LEEP or laser. Though there is some risk with scar tissue and LEEPs I chose to get it done because I felt I could either risk my life down the road or risk a potetial for scar tissue. Plus the LEEP is supposed to be the most treatable. The procedure was not bad all and I am pretty much recovered now....I had it about one month ago. I go in for my first follow up post LEEP tomorrow.

Keep us posted on what your doctor tells you!

Sarmee....you have come to a great place for ladies to give you advice, answer questions and just lend a ear. My best advice is to have all your questions written down for your next appointment. Being armed with information is one of the best things you can do right now. The other piece of advice, is to try not to worry too much. I know that is easier said than done, but until you know exactly what is going on, it's gonna help you the most. Like ladies have said already, so many other women have dysplasia and it is treatable. Take care and God speed,

Tori

No, no real special diets or vitamins. When we started TTC in January 2006, tho, I did go on a "special" TTC vitamin blend. Who knows if it was worth the cost but it made me feel more in "control" of TTC--as if that's REALLY possible! LOL! It just had extra folic acid and B vitamins from what I remember. While pregnant I just took a prenatal and an additional DHA supplement. I'm still breastfeeding so I've still been taking the prenatal.

Other than that, tho, I hadn't done anything different the last couple years since the dysplasia/LEEP cone. I think it was just time and my body's defenses that "fought" off the HPV strain I had before? Although I did read that the HPV (especially high-risk strains) can lie dormant in the body for years and then just "pop" up again. Not sure if a test during that time will be neg or pos. Whatever the case, I'm happy it was neg. Just wish the pap was normal!

If you get a chance, try to ****** the study article "Persistent and recurrent cervical dysplasia after loop electrosurgical excision procedure" by Amy D. Brockmeyer, MD, Jason D. Wright, MD, Feng Gao, PhD and Matthew A. Powell, MD. It's pretty informative and pretty recent (Sept 2004) in terms of dysplasia research.

GL! Let me know if you have any other questions!

Don't know why it ****** what I wrote. All I did was put the name of a popular search engine there--starts with a "G." Maybe the site doesn't allow that even though the ads on the site our from that search engine. Oh well. Just search the study/article however you want! It's good! I'd attach it but I don't know how to do that or if it can even be done.

thank you for the information guys. I will keep you updated on my status I go on Monday the 13th. I appreciate all the advice. I am still nervous and I know I will be waiting to get the results back but now after reading I know my doc will have a semi good idea when she looks at my cervix as to how bad it might be and how many lesions there are. should I abstain from sex before the colpo?

Yes, I'd obstain. I don't think it causes any issues with the colpo as it does with the pap (sometimes false positives) but, IMHO, I think it'd eliminate question. But, if your SO wears condoms, than maybe not. Dunno. I don't think it's a HUGE deal either way but I abstained and it wasn't so bad! wink, wink!