Abnormal Pam Smear

Updated on March 28, 2007
K.B. asks from Sacramento, CA
8 answers

I went for my yearly pap smear exam and results came back abnormal. Then the Doctor did a Colposcopy and said she saw high abnormal cells and i would have to have a leep procedure done. I went back and had that done. She called me and said that the results came back better then she thought. My doctor said that i have to go back every 3 months for a year to make sure it dosen't come back. And after a year i can get pregnant again. Which made me a little upset because my husband and i were wanting to have another baby sooner then a year. Anyways I was wondering if anyone has gone threw this. I cant help but feel that theres more that there not telling me.

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

I had the same situation,but they checked me every six months for two years. What reason did they give you for not getting pregnant sooner? I might seek a second opinion if they give you an answer you're not happy with. Following my LEEP, my natruopath had me take a folic acid supplement, and my gynecologist said that I healed faster and better than anyone she'd ever seen. I have had setbacks over the last two years which has made me postpone having a second baby when I wanted to, it helps me to understand that everything happens for a reason, even if the reason isn't clear at the present. After all, we want to have healthy babies above all else and may not have been able to do so had we gotten pregnant when we wanted to, rather than when God intended. Hope that makes sense, good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Seattle on

I've had abnormal pap smears for the last three years. I also found out that I have HPV, like many women do. Abnormal paps are not the end of the world. If the doctor is telling you to wait to get pregnant, then you should definately wait. Just think of it as more time to spend alone with the wonderful child that you already have. Next year, when you get pregnant again, you will hardly have a moment alone (much less quality alone time with your little girl). Just relax and don't worry. It really won't help anything, and it will just raise your stress levels about something that can't be helped at the moment. I'm sure that everything will turn out okay, but if it helps to talk in the meantime, we're always here for you. =)

1 mom found this helpful
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H.B.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi Kim,

First thing I would like to mention been there and done that. I am a 36 year old women who has 2 wonderful girls. Last year I went in for a pap smear and it came back abnormal. I than had the colposcapy, came back abnormal squallous cells, then had the leep. This came back abnormal and high scallous cells with no margin. Which basically meant everything she had taken out of me during the leep had all abnormal cells. This was a precancerous situation due to HPV (human papaloma viruse). This typically does cause genital warts and put you at risk of developing cancer. Diagnosed positive, never knew I even had it.
Due to my results we (the Doctor and I ) opted to have a full abdominal hystorectomy, leaving in my olvaries. This would decrease the chances that I would start having symptoms of menapause, (ie. hotflashes/night swets ect.) Too bad for me, I now have constant hot flashes. I was lucky though and so are you. I am unable to have any more children, you still may have children but need to wait. I would suggest starting to take prenatal vitamins or folate daily until you are pregnant for 20 weeks. This is something that is recommended for all women planning a pregnancy.

Though, I may not be able to have children any more. I am lucky enough to be around to raise the one's I do have.
I am thankful for a complete exam and complete honesty. However, before I even met with my doctor for the results of the colposcopy, I researched what I could about cervicle cancer. This is always very important to me. My mother would of had me dead and burried before the actual diagnosis could be made. She can be a bit dramatic. But, it also open up needed conversation for the doctor and patient. My OBGYN was so impresses, she actually told me I was precancerous w/ abnormal cells. I repeated to her that I was "carcinoma in situ." She thought I was wrong but when she read the info I had brought, she said "you know what, you are right." I am very impressed most of my patients just take my word for everything.
I believe education is empowering. The more I know about a subject, the more respect that I get as a patient/parent. Nobody knows everything! It is impossible. That goes for even doctors. My suggestion would be to look up cervicle cancer on the net and get as educated as possible and write down any questions that you might have for the doctor. Then call your doctor and set up an appointment to just answer any questions that you may have. Bring another adult with you. Doctors are more willing to listen and answer questions when more than 1 person is in the exam room. If that still doesn't answer your questions, switch doctors or get another opinion.

What does this mean? "Your exam results came back better than expected." This is not a diagnosis, this is a doctor that says all looks well, see me in three months. This did not really leave you anywhere when a question did arise. I would find that statement insulting and aggrevating. Then I would say...."what is the diagnosis?" I would ask him/her to write it down for me, then I would look it up in the computer. Have a medical dictionary with you or very close by. You will probably need it. I have to translate all the medical lingo into understandable english.

So, I guess I wanted to say.... There is always two ways of looking at things (half empty or half full). I understand your dissapointment on having to wait for an increase your family size. I also wanted to have my children about two 1/2 years apart, but it took me 18 months to get pregnant the second time. I do believe everything happens for a reason. I don't know the reasons most of the time but I just leave it in Gods hands. She usually knows what is happening and why, someday we will too.

Good Luck and God Bless you and your family. Write me back if you have any other questions.

H. B.

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A.S.

answers from San Francisco on

When I was pregnant I had an abnormal Pap and was told it was HPV. After my daughter was born I had no HPV signs or any other abnormal paps. So I'm not sure what happened there, I did have a wart on my foot, which is the only thing I can think of. I have to go back in March for my yearly hopefully I will fair well.
Best of luck to you, glad every thing was taken care of

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S.S.

answers from Honolulu on

I went through the same thing as you. In fact, having my son saved my life, because had it not been for the check-up and pregnancy test at the doctors office, I wouldnt have known about my abnormal pap-smear. It came back that I had severe displaysia (sp)which is pre-cancer, and they too did a colposcopy on me, then said I had to wait til after I gave birth to have the leep procedure done. And thats what I did. I just went to the doctor about 3 weeks ago and had a pap-smear done, but havent heard back from my doctor- no news is good news right. (my fingers are crossed) Thats all I know, but I hope this helps even a little, and the best of luck to you. Stay healthy!

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J.M.

answers from Spokane on

Heeey:
I had to go thru the exact same thing you did!!! it was very scary and icky but they had to do all these proceedures on me to keep making sure all was ok....I also had to go back every 3 mos and get checked for a yr. and after that I had normal ones!!! I am 27 and I have a 5 mo. old daughter.

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K.E.

answers from Seattle on

I have had an abnormal pap smear. I am also in the medical field. Not a doctor though. I did however, not have to have a leep procedure done. But from what I undestand, most women will at one point in their lives have HPV and an abnormal pap. It is very common. Don't feel like you did anything wrong. It is once again, a very common thing. I am not sure about when you would be able to conceive or not. That is a great question to talk to about with your doctor or OBGYN. Just remember that you are not the only one out there that has had this problem. I would be that someone you know close to you has had this exact samy thing. Have you considered getting the Garvicil shot? It is a vaccine for HPV. Not all, but most of the high risk cervical cancer causing ones. Just a suggestion. I hope that this makes you feel at least somewhat better about you situation.
Katie

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E.W.

answers from San Francisco on

K.,

I don't want to be a pain and I am sorry for this but did you happen to have an indepth conversation about the cause of this with your doctor?

Over 98% of women who have displaysia (the abnormal cells) have been exposed to genetal warts. If you go back in 3 months and still have the same, chances are that you have active warts. If not, then you were likely exposed and could be a carrier.

If I were you, I would put your doctor on the spot and ask him point blank what he thinks this came from. He may just want to clear it up, hope you are just a carrier and have you move on happy go lucky with your husband. Being as this can cause cancer, I really hope you opt to have that conversation with your doctor.

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