HPV...anyone?

AustinBride06 · December 2011

So I just got the call from my OBGYN that not only do I have an abnormal pap, I am apparently HPV positive. I say "apparently" because my dr only tests for it routinely over 30 apparently so there's no way of knowing how long I've had it. The nurse just said that it'll be something we watch and to stay healthy. I am going in for a biopsy (bc of the pap) and I'll probably have to get checked every 6 months now.

Would love to hear advice/experience of anyone who has it or know someone who does. Feel free to email me at baustria at g mail instead of posting here.

amyliisa · December 2011

I do/did. Don't think it goes away does it? Anyway I didn't know until my pap when pg w/ds1. My pap was abnormal enought that I had to have a colposcopy (dr looks at the cervix w/a colposcope, which is like a microscope) while pregnant. It looks for displaysia or pre-cancerous cells on the cervix. She didn't see anything that couldn't wait till after I delivered to take care of. So after DS was born she looked again and it (the cells) had actually changed pretty drastically, making cervixal cancer anreal concern. She removed the cells with a LEEP, and had them biopsied, which they came back as precancerous. Luckily when she removed them she got clear margins so she got it all before it actually became cancer but it was a pretty close call from what I gathered. She had chill bumps when she was explaining it to me, like even she thought it was lucky that she caught it. I had paps every 3mo for a year, then every 6mo for a year to make sure the displaysia didn't return.

Anyway I don't mean to alarm you. It's a good thing that yur dr knows and is keeping a close eye on you. Before I had that pap when when pg, I hadn't had a pap in 4yrs, so it was very lucky that my dr caught it when she did.

Sinafey · December 2011

From what I understand it's pretty common. I had an abnormal pap at 16, a worrying conical biopsy (I think? It's been a while) and then a LEEP procedure. The biopsy was a little painful and I woke up and freaked out during the LEEP, but all in all it wasn't bad physically. The whole experience scared me a lot but I've had normal paps for 13 years since.

texasbeachbride · December 2011

HPV is very common. I think the latest statistics say that appx 75% of women will have had it at one time in their life. Your body can clear it, it doesn't necessarily mean you will have it forever. But having HPV, esp with an abnormal pap puts you at a higher risk for cancer. Doesn't always mean you will have to have a biopsy, that depends on the kind of abnormal pap cells found. It does mean closer monitoring and most of the time you will have to have paps every 6 months until they are no longer abnormal. I had it several years ago and had a colposcopy (biopsy) that was normal. I have not had any other abnormal paps and have not ever tested positive for it again.

Mrs.Froggianna · December 2011

texasbeachbride:
HPV is very common. I think the latest statistics say that appx 75% of women will have had it at one time in their life. Your body can clear it, it doesn't necessarily mean you will have it forever. But having HPV, esp with an abnormal pap puts you at a higher risk for cancer. Doesn't always mean you will have to have a biopsy, that depends on the kind of abnormal pap cells found. It does mean closer monitoring and most of the time you will have to have paps every 6 months until they are no longer abnormal. I had it several years ago and had a colposcopy (biopsy) that was normal. I have not had any other abnormal paps and have not ever tested positive for it again.

Ditto pretty much all of this. I tested positive for it at the 30 year check, but I'd been having abnormal paps for years before so who knows how long I may have had it. My doc had me repeat paps every 6 months till I was clear. And she also told me that the new pap rec that just came out (only needing them every 2 or 3 years, instead of yearly) absolutely will not apply to me because of my history and +HPV test. Sorry you're having to deal with this, but in the grand scheme of things there are waaaaay bigger womanly issues that could pop up. (((hugs)))

ETA: I also had a colposcopy in 2001 when I had my first abnormal pap. Everything came back fine. It wasn't the most fun I've ever had, but it wasn't horrible either. Also, unless I'm seriously mistaken they not only tested me for HPV, but the type of HPV. Some can cause cancer, others genital warts and others are just kind of like a virus that your body eventually clears up. Mine was the 3rd kind so she opted not to biopsy the cells. My next pap 6 months later was clear.

bluestreet · December 2011

Sinafey:
From what I understand it's pretty common. I had an abnormal pap at 16, a worrying conical biopsy (I think? It's been a while) and then a LEEP procedure. The biopsy was a little painful and I woke up and freaked out during the LEEP, but all in all it wasn't bad physically. The whole experience scared me a lot but I've had normal paps for 13 years since.

Mostly ditto. During my first pregnancy I had a "flare up" of the HPV- it manifested in a skin growth that I had to get removed. Haven't had a problem since. I'm just super diligent about my annuals.

MnMShaw · December 2011

amyliisa:
I do/did. Don't think it goes away does it? Anyway I didn't know until my pap when pg w/ds1. My pap was abnormal enought that I had to have a colposcopy (dr looks at the cervix w/a colposcope, which is like a microscope) while pregnant. It looks for displaysia or pre-cancerous cells on the cervix. She didn't see anything that couldn't wait till after I delivered to take care of. So after DS was born she looked again and it (the cells) had actually changed pretty drastically, making cervixal cancer anreal concern. She removed the cells with a LEEP, and had them biopsied, which they came back as precancerous. Luckily when she removed them she got clear margins so she got it all before it actually became cancer but it was a pretty close call from what I gathered. She had chill bumps when she was explaining it to me, like even she thought it was lucky that she caught it. I had paps every 3mo for a year, then every 6mo for a year to make sure the displaysia didn't return.
Anyway I don't mean to alarm you. It's a good thing that yur dr knows and is keeping a close eye on you. Before I had that pap when when pg, I hadn't had a pap in 4yrs, so it was very lucky that my dr caught it when she did.

I had a pretty similar experience. I went in for my regular pap and it came back abnormal. I had to have a colopscopy and it indicated I had precancerous cells at a pretty high level. I then had the LEEP procedure and went in to an day surgery place and had the cells removed and then I went home the same day. Thankfully, all of the precancerous cells were removed and I have had normal paps ever since. After the LEEP I also went back every 3 months for a year, then every 6 months for a year, then it went back to normal.

AustinBride06 · December 2011

Thank you all SO much for sharing your experiences here and over email. I didn't think I was freaking out about it but after reading all this I felt myself exhale with relief that it can be totally manageable and no big deal at all in many cases. HPV always = imminent cancer in my head (DH has some students who have gone through cervical cancer & HPV in high school) so I'm relieved to hear that that isn't always the case.

Again, thanks for the support and I'll update after I have my followup/colopscopy/biopsy in a couple of weeks. I guess that's the silver lining to my BFNs this cycle... don't have to stress about being pregnant and worrying about this.

Want a personalized experience?

HPV...anyone?

Re: HPV...anyone?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards