They want to do a colposcopy / cervical biopsy while I'm pregnant. Should I just wait?

kimchipalo · December 2015

I got an abnormal pap test. I have HPV. They said it could cause cancer. I didn't even know I had this.

I'm worried as heck with them "messing with my cervix", should I just wait to have the colposcopy / biopsy?

I rather not mess with my cervix while I'm pregnant,

Does anyone have any good / bad experiences, please share with me.

This is my first pregnancy. I am 12 weeks right now. I'll be 13 weeks when they do the procedure.

Also, am I allowed to ask them to NOT do the procedure or is this mandatory?

JMarie1291 · December 2015

Yes wait! I had the same thing .... Get a second opinion. I had a miscarriage at 17 weeks prior to this pregnancy. During that pregnancy they did my pap amd it came back ab normal and pos for hpv. (this has nothing to do with why i miscarried so don't worry) They did cerv biop and colposcopy and got horrifying results. They redid it after the miscarriage and got normail results and my hpv came back neg.... Being pregnant elevates test results call around get a second opinion. I switch ob's for this pregnancy and they told me you never undergo testing for ab normal pap while preg till after the baby. Just because of that reason.

JMarie1291 · December 2015

Just call another ob ask to speak with a nurse tell them about the ab normal pap....say your wanting a second opinion.

cmerribury · December 2015

I've had abnormal paps in the past and just re-did them and they came back fine. I'd do that before anything else. And, ALWAYS, you can say no to any medical procedure...it's not "mandatory" it's your body, so your choice. HOWEVER, I would sit down with your doctors and understand the implications of not treating this if something is wrong.

peregrinefalconx · December 2015

I agree with PPs. Also, if you do have HPV, which is super common (and only a fraction of the strains are cancerous), what good what that do for you to know now? I mean, I have no idea what treatment looks like, but you've got important stuff going on in there that I wouldn't mess with. Those are questions maybe after a 2nd opinion, and for a doctor, or course.

wildtot · December 2015

Agree second opinion. My doc didnt even recommend a pap for me due to my sensitive cervix.

acadia07 · December 2015

I can't tell you what to do in this situation and agree with getting a second opinion, but I can tell you this is absolutely not mandatory. NOTHING is mandatory when it comes to your body. It's your body, and you make the decisions. Don't ever forget it.

huskypuppy14 · December 2015

I've had HPV in the past (8ish years ago when I was in my 20s) and have had 3 colposcopies/cervical biopsies. They suck, but the colposcopy is just the camera part, that should not hurt anything. My hospital won't do a cervical biopsy on pregnant women, and I was super annoyed they made me take a pregnancy test before I got mine done because I hadn't had sex in months.

After the biopsy, I didn't have to undergo any other procedures, because they were non cancerous, so I would definitely wait. They definitely shouldn't do a LEEP procedure (the next step, I believe) if you're pregnant. So I don't see the point of getting the biopsy now. Wait until after the baby is born. I'd get a second opinion.

groovylocks · December 2015

Actually this is basically the story of how i found out i was pregnant. Way back in the day, I had a cervical biopsy scheduled. Because my OB knew i was TTC, she of course did a urine test before the procedure. At the risk of getting all TMI, i was already in stirrups and cranked open when there was a frantic pounding on the door and somebody outside yelling "Stop! Stop Dr. X!" So Dr. X. apologizes to me and goes out with a "I'm in the middle of a... oh." and tells me she'll be back.

So i'm laying there splayed out, rocking an open speculum for about a minute. She finally comes back in and tells me I had a "weak positive" and they would be terminating the biopsy since I was pregnant. I am 37 weeks now and no mention of the biopsy has come up in all this time.

So short story long and super gross, I had the impression they should wait.

jonesl12 · December 2015

I'd wait. We have never done a leep or a colopscopy on a pregnant patient ... Ever

JenniferMasters · December 2015

I would too. I've had mild displaysia for 8 years and had a biopsy done every year. Afterwards I cramp and bleed a lot and was told not to have one done if I was pregnant-my body doesn't like it. I'm waiting to have a leep procedure until after kids

fourtsixand2 · December 2015

YES!!! WAIT!!!

While a pap is often done early on in the pregnancy, a cervical biopsy can be damaging.

I had been diagnosed with HPV last year and became pregnant this year. Since I was due for my pap, we went ahead and did that because my Dr said at this stage my chances of any damage/miscarriage from the pap was extremely slim.
My results also came back that I was HPV negative. Not sure how it didn't show up in the pap this time, but it didn't. It can flare up and go away.

I wouldn't risk it, and I'm honestly kind of surprised they even suggested it at your stage in pregnancy.

mooncusp22 · December 2015

I had to get a colposcopy done and had set up the appointment, then found out I was pregnant with my first. They doctor said it was safe to do, it took like 3min and everything was just fine. I am currently in the exact same situation now. I unfortunately had another abnormal pap on my recent yearly checkup and abnormal again. I literally called yesterday and set an appointment for the procedure and just found out I am pregnant. This is a different doctor since we recently moved so I will go with what they recommend. I am fine doing the procedure since it was fine the first time, if the dint recommend I will follow the suggestions of my new doctor.

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They want to do a colposcopy / cervical biopsy while I'm pregnant. Should I just wait?

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