Abnormal Pap.

MWilburn

So, I got a call from the midwife that my pap I had done on the 22nd of Sept is abnormal. I tested positive for one of the high risk strains of HPV, so now I have to go tuesday for a colposcopy and possibly biopsy. I'm terrified, not just of the possibility of cervical cancer, but of the biopsy.. of there needing to be immediate treatment on my cervix, which could rule out a vaginal birth if it needs to be radical enough..

I know my health is the most important thing, obviously, but to have my dreams of a homebirth done naturally taken away is just.. terrifying..

Then the fear that I have cancer, that I'll need a hysterectomy after the baby, that this will be my only child..

 

I just needed to let it out. Anyone else deal with this during their pregnancy?

grounhogswifey

I don't have HPV but I do have gential herpes. Vaginal birth is off the table, I know that we can try and if I don't show signs of outbreak the baby would, more than likely be fine, but DH and I don't want to risk it. I sort of wish I had the option of having a vaginal but I'm come the realization that it's just going to happen so I know how you feel on that. Best of luck to you!

jayleigh68

I'm sorry that is so scary. I hope everything is ok.

Texas77again

oh geez, that is scary.  i'm sorry that you have to worry about this.   

i hope that when you have your test done everything turns out ok.  do you know what the chances are that the strain you have will cause cancer?  i would def go in prepared to ask a lot of questions.  you need to make informed decisions. 

JaeJae8687

I tested positive for a high-risk strain of HPV before I was pregnant a couple years ago. I had to have a colposcopy and biopsy. It was uncomfortable but not painful. It came back that I had precancerous cells on my cervix. There are maybe 5 different levels of bad cells (can't remember for sure) and mine were in the middle. However, the cells were all removed during the colposcopy and I have not had another abnormal pap since then (2008). My Dr. said HPV was kind of like a cold for your vagina. He did say that it could come back during pregnancy just because of all the hormones and all that. The tests I've had have all been normal so far so this could be something that you get taken care of now and never have to worry about again! I hope this helps calm you a bit and that everything turns out ok and you can still follow your birth plan

angelaggie

I had abnormal paps up until this past year. I had high risk hpv and cervical dysplasia. I've had 4 colposcopies and two biopsies. The first colposcopy they couldn't find anything. All they do is put a solution in you, completely harmless, that makes abnormal cells glow. They just look, that's it easy peasy. The biopsy was a bit painful, but I had dysplasia at the time which made me oober sensitive. I really was only sore for a few hours. If they actually have to do a LEEP to remove pre cancerous cells, I had this too, they numb you. It took 3 years before they did a LEEP on me. Most doctors I've had say they wait until after pregnancy to do anything more than a biopsy. It's a really slow process. I hope that helps a bit. I know it's scary.

angelaggie

Oh and if you do have to have a LEEP it shouldn't affect future pregnancies. I got pregnant super fast, and should be able to have a vaginal birth. There is an extremely low risk of preterm labor is your cervix shortens, but my doctor said that is extremely rare with just one LEEP. He will be monitoring me closely though.

books4brooke

This happened to me right after I had my son, but I honestly believe that the abnormal pap was from having a traumatic and difficult delivery.  The colpo was fine and I've had enough normal screens in a row now that I can go to one every other year.

jenny_seitz

I just found out at my last appt that the pap I had done the appt prior came back with some abnormal cells.  She said that they appeared to just be inflammation but she wanted to recheck just to be sure and that often times, the birth can "cure" the problem because the cells are sloughed off during delivery.

She didn't recheck that day because she wasn't able to give me any heads up on having it done (they were also running about an hour behind bc she had to deliver a baby in the middle of her appts).  So when i go in for our a/s on the 24th, she's going to do the solution thing that makes the cells glow or whatever.  I'm a little nervous about it, but she doesn't really seem concerned at all, so I'm holding on to that.  

I've had normal paps since I was 17 and have gotten the Guardasil vaccine.  So unless I contracted HPV that just hung around dormant for many years, I'm hoping its nothing.

I hope that everything turns out fine with you and that you don't have to give up your dream birth plan!

Babycakes29

angelaggie:

Oh and if you do have to have a LEEP it shouldn't affect future pregnancies. I got pregnant super fast, and should be able to have a vaginal birth. There is an extremely low risk of preterm labor is your cervix shortens, but my doctor said that is extremely rare with just one LEEP. He will be monitoring me closely though.

I tested positive for the high risk HPV a few years ago and have had abnormal paps for a the last 3 years. Each time they come back as LSIL which is low grade. My OB was actually a little annoyed that my previous doc didn't ever do a LEEP or anything like that one me.

But for me my OB will not touch my cervix in anyway while pregnant unless absolutely necessary. Instead, I'm just getting more frequent pap smears to monitor if my HPV gets any worse but he feels doing a biopsy or any other procedures risks causing an incompetent cervix, thus leading to possible preterm labor.

xoladiebug

My husband's best friend's wife was exactly where you are a few years ago.  Her story was featured on the show called "I'm Pregnant and...".  If you google the show for full episodes, her's is the one about having cancer in season 2.  She and her husband already had a little boy but she was told she had cancer and should (basically) abort in order to start treatment.  She chose to get a second opinion and ended up carrying their daughter to term.  She had the hysterectomy afterwards and they found that the cancer didn't spread.   

Personally, I had an abnormal pap in 2003 and was told that I had gone from mild dysplasia to severe dysplasia within 5 months.  They did the colposcopy and biopsied a part of my cervix.  It was very uncomfortable and resulted in menstrual-like cramping.  I forget which HPV I was diagnosed with, but I ended up being on a course of antibiotics and that was it.  

Best of luck to you and I'll pray that everything turns out okay. 

 

MWilburn

So, an update.. I went in for my colpo. The dr I saw used the solution, did the microscope thing, and told me, and I quote..

"well, I got nothin'."

He said my normal dr made things out to be way more dramatic than they needed to be, and that I should get another pap after delivery, bu as of right now, I shouldn't give it another thought.

 

PHEW.

 

Huge sigh of relief, lemme tell ya.