Abnormal Pap Smear, Dysplasia and HPV - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

Leah007 · 05-21-2007, 04:54 PM

Hello. I am new to the Health Boards and wanted to share my story and inquire about some information. I aploogize in advance for such a long post. I'm 32 years old and had normal pap smears until now. About last week I received a call from my OB/GYN stating that my recent pap smear came back abnormal with Dysplasia. He told me this was a low grade abnormal cell growth and nothing "to lose sleep over." I'm scheduled for a colposcopy in early June. When I heard about this news I was shocked and frightened! I've been spending that past several days reading all I can about Dysplasia. What concerns me the most right now is reading that HPV is the cause. Now I've read about HPV in the past manifesting as genital warts and being linked to cervical cancer. I've never had any warts. However, after further reading I've recently learned that genital warts is only one strain of HPV. This scares me because I must have HPV if I have Dysplasia. How could I have been so uninformed. With HPV being an STD, I wonder about my future sex life. I'm single and am not CURRENTLY sexually active, though I have been in the past. Does HPV clear up or not even with Dysplasia? Does this mean I will no longer be able to engage in sexual activity with a partner in the future? So on my next appointment I have several questions for the doctor. Any feedback on these matters would be greatly appreciated.

luzon · 05-22-2007, 01:16 AM

Leah ,

I went through pretty much what you have not long ago .To make you feel a bit better with regards to HPV somwhere between 70%-80% of all people have some strain of this virus ,as it is from skin to skin contact not only full sex and it's not sure that condoms help in this case . Only a few of the 1oo strains are conected with cervical cancer, and not all who carry these strains will progress to any stage of pre-cancer-cancer ,in most cases the bodies immune system will fight the virus .

I have my first bad smear at the age of 45 this year with the end result being CIS with unclear margins or I have had two cones and hopefully that is it , I have a follow up next week .

I wasen't tested for HPV ,though my oncologist said there is no doubt that I have it and one of the bad strains . I did read somewhere that peoplewho are tested before going through a cone and after find that they have no indication of HPV . I expect it is dormant . I think that mine was dormant for many years befre rearing it's ugly head .

In short i just wanted to say it's a common virus with most people that are carring it unawares and we just got unlucky that it compromised out health .

Now there is a vacine against the four dangerous strains that I recommend to all my friends who have daughters ( given from age 9-26 ) .

Good luck with your coloscopy results ,

Miri

RouxWoman · 05-22-2007, 09:10 PM

You may not have HPV!

Only by testing will you know for sure. I just went through this with my doctor where one of the interns "assumed" I had HPV because I had an abnormal pap that came back HGSIL/CINll.

I asked her several times to give me a test and she told me that because of the high percentage of women who have that type of result it was 99.9% certain that I had it!

Well, in the end my doctor did do a test when she did my LEEP and it came back negative. I did not have HPV, so please do not worry so much right now until you are tested. You may be in the percent that does not have HPV!

I do not think that if you do have it it will clear up. I think it is there forever if you have it. Again, do not worry so much until you know for sure, and the best of luck to you.

FromSqueaky · 05-23-2007, 08:26 PM

I had an abnormal pap doctor called to tell me about it. Said that in 3 months to come back and he would redo the pap. I went back in 3 months had another pap that one came back abnormal so the following week I went in for a colposcopy. The had me watch a video of it first then the nurse talked it over with me doctor came in took 3 pieces of tissue no bigger than the end of a ball point pen for biopsy. Gave me some Metro Gel to help with the healing and I was on my way. No biggie never hurt I talked to the nurse all the way through it.
I have cervical dysplasia which is just precancerous cells. I am negative for HPV and STD's. I was told the cells may or may not turn cancerous. They can go away on their own.

I read alot about pH balance and started drinking fresh squeezed lemon juice in my water along with better alkaline foods to raise my pH. Mine was very low when I tested it. Started taking multi vitamins along with B6, multi mushrooms and a few others vitamins

I went back last month for my follow up pap after my colopscopy and the pre cancer cells are gone. So I go back in 6 months for another pap and if that's clear then I can start going back every year.

Good Luck

EDIT: HPV is there forever but it can go in remission. Precancer cells everyone has them in their body. You are born with them. If the body is sick, stressed, deficient in vitamins the cells come to surface. If you have precancer cells only they can go away

PiercedPunkette · 05-23-2007, 10:14 PM

I was diagnosed with moderate dysplasia and HPV in February. I had a colposcopy done in April, the results came back that it was moderate dysplasia and I ended up having to get a LEEP procedure yesterday.
The colposcopy was the worst part. Just really uncomfortable. Nothing you can't handle though! It's an extended PAP basically usually takes about 15 minutes.
Chances of getting cervical cancer and dying from it are extremely low, generally 1%. Usually it's caught before it ever turns into something serious.
The HPV can go away on its on, though there is no cure. Most people's immune system just fights it off. So it'll more then likely go away taking anywhere from a few months to a year.. maybe longer. It all depends on your immune system.
If you smoke, quit. Try to be as healthy as you can! It is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact, so using condoms does not prevent it. Once you have the strain you have it forever and you can't get re-infected with the same strand twice. Since there are over 100 different strands you really need to protect yourself. Also, it usually takes anywhere from 2 months to a year to get the virus. If you do choose to have sex that's up to you. Nothing happens to men when they get it, unless it's the HPV that causes genital warts. There isn't even a test for men.
Don't worry, it's nothing too serious. I like you was very scared, I mean i'm only 19!
I've gone about my life as regularly as I use to. I was with my boyfriend when I got it, and am still with him. My doctor told me I could continue to have sex with him because there is a 99% chance he has it also since we had unprotected sex before I was diagnosed with it.
If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.
Again, don't stress yourself out, everything will be fine!! Good Luck