| Re: HPV - abnormal pap
Hi Pleaseassist.
There are two basic catagories of HPV that affect the genitals (cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, penis, mouth/throat): Low risk and high risk. Low risk HPV cause genital warts. High risk HPV can cause cancer (of any of the above listed body areas) if undetected and/or untreated. Warts are not caused by high risk HPV and Low risk HPV doesn't lead to cancer.
Because of your age (over 30), I strongly suggest you ask your doctor about performing an ECC (endocervical curettage) at the same time as your colposcopy. The ECC is the only nonsurgical way to sample the cells in the cervical canal.
If you have a currently active HPV infection, then the virus is *somewhere*. If it isn't showing up on the exocervix (with the pap or colpo), then it is possible the virus is causing damage in the upper 2/3 of the cervix. The ECC hurts, but it is much better to know what you are dealing with than to not know. I've learned that the hard way.
Hopefully, if the colpo and ECC come out ok, then nothing (related to HPV) should interfer with conception. If it is determined that you have some type of dysplasia, it is possible that a procedure might need to happen to remove (to test and sample) the cells: LEEP, cold knife cone biopsy, etc. If those procedures are ordered, then it might postpone your possibilities for conception. It is possible (but statistics say the chances are very slim) that you might need more drastic surgical procedures. Those could interfere with fertility or the ability to conceive and/or carry a baby.
I hope that helps answer some of your questions.
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