LAgirl81

Kim,

You should read through the threads on the Cervical/Ovarian cancer board. You will find a lot of useful information as well as read other women's testimonies on similar experiences.

What exactly did you pap result say? Was it ASCUS? Did it say you have a grade of dysplasia? You need to find out exactly what it said.

Chances are you don't have cancer as your doc probably would've had you come in RIGHT away to the office. A pap smear is a screening tool so it more likely that you have some type of pre-cancerous changes on your cervix, or even just some mild atypia not associated with pre-cancer. But definitely talk to your doctor about your particular results.

Relax. You *must* relax. Do your own reading up and research on HPV and cervical cancer. Trust me, you will feel better. A looooot of us women on this board are going through the same thing right now. Take comfort in knowing you're not alone and read through the cervical cancer board threads.

HPV is RAMPANT. It is *everywhere*. If you have sex, chances are you have or will have HPV. It can lay dormant in your bodies for years. When it is active, a high-risk strain will usually affect your cervix, causing your pap smear to come back abnormal. RELAX. This does NOT mean you have cancer, NOR does it mean you ever will get cancer. Depending on the level of pre-cancer (dysplasia), there's a good chance that your body will fight the infection on your cervix and it will go away. If it's severe dysplasia, there are simple, effective procedures to remove the tissue from your cervix, causing minimal risks to your health (and only a very small percentage of women who get these procedures encounter probs with childbearing, but most women have no problems after treatment whatsoever).

The # of partners you had makes no difference. Of course, the more people you sleep with, the more likely you'll be exposed to more STDs. However, most women I know who tested positive for HPV (myself included) only slept with a couple of people in their lives!!

It is very, very, VERY common. There is no test for men but more than likely most (if not all! haha) sexually active men have HPV, but they exhibit no symptoms (unless they have a low-risk strain which causes warts, but that's not as common).

The good thing is that you're seeing your doctor and you will get taken care of. Try not to panic and think about cancer until you know *exactly* what is going on with your body. In the meantime, relax and read about HPV and dysplasia. The more you know about it, the less you will freak out over it. I know it's a blow to receive the diagnosis for the first time, but trust me, you will feel better about it, especially knowing that trying to avoid getting HPV if you're sexually active is a moot point-- most people have it/will get it. Take care!