abnormal pap

junebug02

I just had a call from my dr. office that said I had an abnormal pap -- low grade squamous cells is what she says I have.  I'm a little freaked out.  Anyone have this happen?  I'm going in again this week for another test - closcopy, I believe its called. 

Edited to add:  she said that they probably won't do a biopsy since I'm pregnant.  

nicT42509

I had an abnormal pap at 8 weeks pregnant. I had the colpo done...not anymore uncomfortable than a pap. no biopsy because she didnt feel the need to. Its very common in preganncy to have abnormal paps. Most times during a vaginal birth, the baby will clear it up. HTH.

jamielollar

I have had a lot of abnormal paps.... having my first pregnant pap this Thursday.  They won't do a lot since you are pregnant, just keep an eye on it.  My SIL had an abnormal pap when she was pregnant and nothing came of it.  Good Luck and try not to worry... I know it's hard.  It's hard for me to give that advice when I am worried about my first pregnant pap.... my last pre-preg pap was abnormal.  We shall see!  Stay positive!

nicT42509

BTW...I was 11 weeks when i had the procedure done. now that you are in 2nd tri, they may do a biopsy, but most likely no.

Ellasmommy07

This happened to me at my 6 week checkup after I had DD. I had the culposcopy done and it came back low grade dysplasia which is anothre term fro what your dr said you have. I had a biopsy done as well and that is how they determined that it was low grade dysplasia. At the next pap I had 6 months later all was normal again. Sometimes your hormones change things up and it comes out abnormal. Did you have sex 24-48 hrs before the pap. That can result in an abnormal pap as well.

rmj3059

I had something similar but it was pre-pregnancy.  It's called a colposcopy and it's pretty routine sometimes.  Take it for what it's worth, but mine turned out to be nothing and the colposcopy was painless.  I recommend having a second pap before the colposcopy just in case there was a problem with the screening.

micaelasmakeup

Ellasmommy07:

This happened to me at my 6 week checkup after I had DD. I had the culposcopy done and it came back low grade dysplasia which is anothre term fro what your dr said you have. I had a biopsy done as well and that is how they determined that it was low grade dysplasia. At the next pap I had 6 months later all was normal again. Sometimes your hormones change things up and it comes out abnormal. Did you have sex 24-48 hrs before the pap. That can result in an abnormal pap as well.

This.  I've had all abnormal paps since I was about 21 and had 2 culpos and no biopsy on either. My gyno was actually really surprised that at my first baby appt pap I actually got a NORMAL pap!  The baby cured me lol.

MrsEmm

ive had one or 2 and it turned out fine.?

prego760

I've had biosies and coloscopies. The colosocpies only hurt if they use a vinigar solution if they think you could have some precancerous cells. I was told in Dec 2005 that the chances of having a child were slim to none but look at me now!

AJflowers

I had an abnormal pap over 4 years ago...started low.  They did a second pap and it was mod-high, and did a copyl.  I had to have a LEEP.  My paps stayed low for two years after and about a year before I got pg, I got my first clear.  Has been clear since.  GL. 

ETA:The Copyl didn't show anything, ever. 

Sam Buttons

I had the same thing happen to me - the positive thing is that when you go back in because they can't do a biopsy they just look (for me several doctors looked for what felt like was forever) and you get your results right there. no more waiting/worrying. They also told me it was very common and after my closcopy the doctor just said that they will need to do another pap at my 6 week post giving birth appointment and watch it for the next year, but the abnormal cells tend to do away post-pregnancy.

junebug02

Thanks everyone!  I think I am extra-freaked because I just lost a family member to cancer and the word biopsy scares the crap out of me!!  Yes, I did have sex within the 36 or so hours before my pap -- darn my cute DH!!  I hope that's all it was. 

blissfully_caffeinated

Having an abnormal pap is kind of like getting a weird freckle on you skin. It really isn't anything bad. Your doctor just wants to check and see what it is. So he'll do a colposcopy. It's similar to a pap in that you're up in stirrups and he'll use a speculum. Then he'll spray your cervix with a vinegar solution and look at it with a funky microscope called a colposcope. This allows him to see any abnormal cells on your cervix. If he finds cluster of abnormal cells he might do a biopsy so he can see how deep through the tissue the abnormal cells go (the level of dysplasia). It doesn't mean you have cancer.

During pregnancy is the best time to find an abnormal pap. If you have a vaginal delivery the cervix will take a bit of a beating. Then it will heal itself. When that happens it's likely to fix the bad clusters of cells. So, your doctor will probably repeat the pap smear after the baby is born. If it's clear - yay! If it's not clear they might do a LEEP procedure where they remove the clusters of abnormal cells. That basically means they are fixing the problem that your body didn't naturally correct. It's a common procedure done in your OBGYN's office.

The fact that they only found low grade squamous cells means that they only found a few cells that they think are a little abnormal. They can find high grade or low grade - low grade being the more minor of the two. One thing to talk to your doctor about is HPV. It's the infection that causes most abnormal paps. If you're not in a monogamous relationship this should be something you talk to future partners about. It doesn't definitely mean you have it but it's a possibility. I had an abnormal pap, got a colposcopy, and a biopsy done when I was around 18 weeks. I hope this helps.