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2nd Trimester
panic attack...HPV??? WTH?????
Was just diagnosed with HPV and I am SICK with worry. I'm being told pregnancy can make it worse??? OMG, please someone reassure me before I have a coronary.
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Re: panic attack...HPV??? WTH?????
It is not anything to worry about. I had it years ago, mine was the type that was pre-cancerous cells. First it started with an abnormal pap. Then they did something called a colposcopy. Once it was determined what type of cells they were, I had an out patietn procedure to freeze the cells and remove them. I've had normal paps ever since.
My sister also is pregnant and just got diagnosed. It generally isn't a huge deal. Try not to worry.
Same thing for me....just be ABSOLUTELY sure that you have your paps taken either every 6 months or year...this is at your physician's advise.
HPV can be found easier w/ pregnancy because 1. ur immune system decreases, allowing the virus to gain footing and 2. because of cervical changes. It's not tested routinely for women under 30 so if your 31 (looked at ur profile) this maybe be the first time (depending on ur pap schedule) you were tested for the virus. There is no treatment and most cases are benign. Normally they'll do a pregnant Colposcopy which is visualization of the cervix with a special "microscope" aide, this allows them to use a solution to see if there are any major changes to the cervix that aren't pregnancy related. Depending on your healthcare provider some (the office i work at does this) will do a repeat pap with your Group B Strep Cx. Depending on your circumstances you will most likely have to go back every 6 months for repeat paps once you have three normals in a row no cellular changes and no hpv found you can go back to the 1 year pap.
Keep in mind this is the highest STD in the world 6.2million new cases are dx in the US a year. It's so prevalent and normally clears on it's own that medical professional don't even routinely check if your under 30.
My advice is sit back relax and don't stress. You can't change it, you don't know if you've had it for years or it's brand new. They're just gonna monitor you so go with the flow.
First - try to relax. The percentage of women they estimate to have HPV at some point in their lives is astonishing - I want to say it's around 80%. There are different kinds of HPV as a previous poster already mentioned. Some forms of HPV will actually go away on their own after time. Some types can cause cervical cancer - but again, try to relax. If you have a good doctor (and it sounds like you might need one), knowing you have HPV will result in closer monitoring and perhaps more frequent pap smears. If you do have a form of HPV that causes cancer, in most cases early detection of abnormal cells can be treated locally and under proper management, will not progress into cancer.
I had an abnormal pap that resulted in me being diagnosed with HPV. The abnormal cells were removed successfully (prior to TTC) and I just have to have paps a little more frequently than everyone else. I understand your panic - I had the same reaction at first - but really try to relax. And get a doctor who you can trust and talk to - that's been my saving grace through the entire process.
Take a deep breath, it's okay!!!
Maybe don't do too much research. A lot of times that's more scarier than it actually is. I did this when I was diagnosed years ago & it freaked my shiit out! I had abnormal pap, colposcopy & all that jazz like pp said. All my paps have came back normal since, but now being k/u it came back abnormal. My Dr. said it was not high risk so she would re-test after I give birth b/c it will usually clear up on it's own afterwards. My dr said you can still deliver vaginally & the baby will be fine. Try not to worry! Hope you feel better!
You are definetly not alone. I had it a few years ago, but after a LEEP (where they freeze the cells & remove them) I've had normal paps.
Don't get too freaked out with everything you read online. Get a new Dr. and have a long conversation with them about it.
Relax.
HPV - Human Papilloma Virus - is a virus that has been associated with cervical cancer.
That being said, detection of the virus does not automatically mean that you have or will ever have cervical cancer. In fact, a very high percentage of the world carries HPV and doesn't even know it, and will probably never know it.
Your Dr. will probably monitor you more closely throughout the remainder of your pregnancy, (basically you'll have more PAP smears than just once/year), and he/she may choose to do a colposcopy after the baby is born, if you haven't had one already - which is just that they take a tiny little piece of your cervix and have it checked to make sure it's not cancerous.
The key thing to remember is this: having the virus does not in any way shape or form mean that you have or will have cervical cancer, it just means that you may be at higher risk than someone who does not carry the virus.
BFP 12/19/08- DS born 8/25/09 9lbs2oz via Zavanelli Maneuver
BFP 8/26/11- Missed miscarriage discovered 10/19/11 at 11w2d, measured at 9 weeks gestation w/ no HB. D&C 10/21/11
BFP 3/17/12 at 12dpo CP 3/21/12
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I've heard the same thing, that a lot of people have it they just don't know it. Try not to stress, because that's not good for the baby either. I would get some more info from your doc.