Question for the Ladies (Abnormal Pap)

[MIGrandma]

I imagine some will think this is TMI, but I'm going to ask anyway. If you've had an abnormal Pap, what caused it?

I've never had an abnormal Pap, until now. Doctor's office called this afternoon to let me know. They also tested for the HPV and that was negative, but they want me to have another Pap in 6 months. It's going to be in the back of my mind all summer.

 

[C.Ann]

My sister-in-law started having abnormal paps right around the time she was starting menopause.. I can't recall what the cause was, but like you, she just had to have them done every 6 months until they returned to normal..

Saying you don't have to have another one for 6 months is a "good" thing.. If it were something to be really concerned about they wouldn't have you wait for 6 months to have another one done..

Hope that relieves some of your concerns..

 

[Mary•Poppins]

OK ... I will probably supply too much info. ... so for some ... you can stop reading here ...

I had a series of bad pap smears. Two in a row. The practice I was seeing had a midwife (that delivered my youngest son) and I LOVE her. She was the person I was seeing for my yearly visits. After my 2 bad pap smears, she told me that I would have to have a very invasive procedure done called a "loop" if I can recall. This is where they would remove part of my cervix. I was pretty stunned and talked it over with my husband. We made the appointment to have this done ... however, it would have to be done by a doctor (who was the man who delivered my second son). They were all in the same practice. The day of the appt. I was placed into the room, and was all set up to have the procedure. However, it was taking a REALLY long time for the doctor to come into the office. When he did arrive. He told me to sit in a chair and that he wanted to talk to me. He told me that abnormal pap smears are not uncommon and that he would NOT recommend this procedure.

So, we canceled the procedure ... and immediately went for a second opinion. After seeing another doctor ... and having a NORMAL pap smear, the doctor told me that is is quite common and the thinking around abnormal pap smears is changing. I am very grateful for the doctor who stopped the procedure and had me wait.

Now, this is my story and if your doctor told you to come back in 6 months, I would see this as a good sign.

And as a side note, I have had "clean" pap smears for 3 years now!!!

 

[C.Ann]

OK ... I will probably supply too much info. ... so for some ... you can stop reading here ...

I had a series of bad pap smears. Two in a row. The practice I was seeing had a midwife (that delivered my youngest son) and I LOVE her. She was the person I was seeing for my yearly visits. After my 2 bad pap smears, she told me that I would have to have a very invasive procedure done called a "loop" if I can recall. This is where they would remove part of my cervix. I was pretty stunned and talked it over with my husband. We made the appointment to have this done ... however, it would have to be done by a doctor (who was the man who delivered my second son). They were all in the same practice. The day of the appt. I was placed into the room, and was all set up to have the procedure. However, it was taking a REALLY long time for the doctor to come into the office. When he did arrive. He told me to sit in a chair and that he wanted to talk to me. He told me that abnormal pap smears are not uncommon and that he would NOT recommend this procedure.

So, we canceled the procedure ... and immediately went for a second opinion. After seeing another doctor ... and having a NORMAL pap smear, the doctor told me that is is quite common and the thinking around abnormal pap smears is changing. I am very grateful for the doctor who stopped the procedure and had me wait.

Now, this is my story and if your doctor told you to come back in 6 months, I would see this as a good sign.

And as a side note, I have had "clean" pap smears for 3 years now!!!

See? Now this is a very encouraging post!

 

[MIGrandma]

Thank you both.

C.Ann, you said your sister-in-law started having abnormal paps around the time she started menopause so maybe that will be the same with me. In March I had two cycles and then none for almost 3 months (it appeared again this past weekend). I had gone as long as 6-weeks without it before, so it's becoming very irregular now.

Yes, I agree it's good they didn't want me to come right back in, but to wait. So I'll try not to let it worry me too much over the next few months.

 

[WDWBarb]

I've had many come back abnormal. They retest, they come back normal. I used to get really worked up over the results and would worry myself sick.

But I'm so used to it now that I never think twice about it. I don't know what caused them...

Try not to worry

 

[devonsmommy]

Oh geez, I also might have TMI info about this!

My abnormal paps started around 10 years ago (mid 20s). If I recall, after the first abnormal one, they repeated in 6 months. If it was abnormal again, they did a colposcopy, which is basically a punch of the area where the abnormal cells were. I think they could tell this by some kind of "ointment" that turned the cells a different color. I forget the technical name right now. I've had 3 colposcopies total so far. Then I would go once or twice with completely normal results. It's strange. I also have had another procedure done...I forget what it's called. It might have been the "loop" or something totally different. But I was completely put under for it.

Hopefully it's just nothing and the next one comes back normal!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I agree with the PP's and I wouldn't worry about it. An abnormal test only indicates "cell changes" and this can be for many reasons. As long as you've been going in for regular pap tests, one abnormal test does not indicate a major problem. By waiting 6 months, they're waiting to see if the cells normalize (or whatever ended up there that shouldn't be there goes away) before taking it any farther.

I had two abnormal tests, about 5 years ago. I was sent in for a colcoscopy, where they use a camera to look at the cells and perform a biopsy. The doctor could see the area that had triggered the abnormal pap tests, but the biopsy came back normal, and all of my pap tests since then have been normal. There was simply something benign going on that fixed itself in its own time.

Abnormal pap tests are very common, and there are many factors (including ones that have to do with how the swab itself was taken) that can cause an abnormal test that are perfectly safe and healthy.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Please try not to worry, I know it's hard. If they are waiting six months to have you come back, I think that is a good thing (no guarantees, I'm not a medical person, don't play one on tv).

I had an abnormal pap three or so years ago, ended up having to go back for another 3 months later, and another 3 months after that. Both of the repeats were normal.

Everything was fine the year after that, and I'm thinking another year after that. When I went last year, it was abnormal again. I had a repeat 3 months later and it was normal, and I have one more 3-month repeat to do before I'm "clear" again. Whatever that means.

The first time I had an abnormal, I freaked out on the phone and talked for awhile to the nurse who called me. This last time, it wasn't as scary. If you can't get it off your mind, give your gyn a call and ask questions if you have them. They obviously can't diagnose over the phone, but may be able to reassure you.

Steph

 

[JessicaR]

They advised you to wait 6 months - thats good news. I was called back in immediately and retested. Then I had a colposcopy and some other test that the name escapes me right now. There was no waiting 6 months so be happy!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Actually the terms other PPs have mentioned are colposcopy and LEEP procedure. I've had both and neither are anything to worry about. For my LEEP procedure I was put to sleep. I can be done in a doctor's office, but my doctor said he didn't want me to be uncomfortable if I didn't need to be.

I've had many paps come back positive. The first line of action is to wait, then retest, and then retest again if another positive result is received. Then they move along to further testing (colposcopy and LEEP, if needed). Also, if you test positive for HPV, you can later test negative. From what I understand, it's something you will always have, but can remain dormant for years. And even a positive HPV test DOES NOT mean you have or will have cancer.

Please try not to worry too much. If you'd prefer to get a little more information, here's a link to my OB-GYN's website which has a lot of information about many, many topics:

http://www.rubinoobgyn.com/education.html

 

[lovesmurfs]

Went to a general practitioner once and had an abnormal pap -- she re-did the test, and her words were "Well, I've NEVER seen results like these." Talk about a freak-out moment.

Went to an OB/GYN, who laughed (!), did another pap, and told me it was likely a yeast infection which caused the abnormal results. Treated me, I was fine, and never had a problem with it again...

I was SOOOOO....worried while I was waiting.

 

[sasywtch]

I've had many abnormals, biopsies and all that good stuff.
However, your statment on menopause was close to mine.
When I was going through what you are now (periods stop, start again months later and some little hot flashes thrown in for excitement), I had an abnormal pap smear. Ended up being a fibroid cyst. My doctor told me it is common at this stage as a lot of females have these cysts but never know because "monthly" they are flushed or shed out. When you stop having periods monthly, they don't flush/shed out.

 

[Notatourist]

While I hope and pray that yours in normal, I was one of those who abnormal lead to cancer...

If anything weird starts happening between now and then, GET THEE BACK TO THE DOCTOR.

Enough said.

 

[maroo]

There are many kinds of abnormal pap smears -

The first level is basically inflammation - which can be caused by a number of things and are not necessarily a big deal at all. We call this "normal" at our office, even though the words on the official path report are "not normal" - because it is so common.

Then there are three levels of dysplasia - mild, moderate and severe. Mild is the best kind here and as you get towards severe, it is worse.

Then there is a carcinoma in situ - which is a neoplasm, but has not spread anywhere yet.

And then there is cancer that has spread.


So...lots of levels.



I would get a copy of the actual report and read it to see if there is any mention of dysplasia. If there isn't - then I really would not worry about it at all - just keep your appt in 6 months and it will probably be fine.

If there is dysplasia, then that would be more concerning, but I would still not worry and just follow up in 6 months.

 

[Silent1CB]

Looks like you didn't think of the question while you were on the phone with the doctors office. Happens. I would simply call back and ask any questions you may have. That's what they are there for. My doctor returns calls all the time.

I would call before I would sit worrying about all kinds of things I read on the internet.

Good luck.

 

[Nette]

OK ... I will probably supply too much info. ... so for some ... you can stop reading here ...

I had a series of bad pap smears. Two in a row. The practice I was seeing had a midwife (that delivered my youngest son) and I LOVE her. She was the person I was seeing for my yearly visits. After my 2 bad pap smears, she told me that I would have to have a very invasive procedure done called a "loop" if I can recall. This is where they would remove part of my cervix. I was pretty stunned and talked it over with my husband. We made the appointment to have this done ... however, it would have to be done by a doctor (who was the man who delivered my second son). They were all in the same practice. The day of the appt. I was placed into the room, and was all set up to have the procedure. However, it was taking a REALLY long time for the doctor to come into the office. When he did arrive. He told me to sit in a chair and that he wanted to talk to me. He told me that abnormal pap smears are not uncommon and that he would NOT recommend this procedure.

So, we canceled the procedure ... and immediately went for a second opinion. After seeing another doctor ... and having a NORMAL pap smear, the doctor told me that is is quite common and the thinking around abnormal pap smears is changing. I am very grateful for the doctor who stopped the procedure and had me wait.

Now, this is my story and if your doctor told you to come back in 6 months, I would see this as a good sign.

And as a side note, I have had "clean" pap smears for 3 years now!!!

I had an abnormal pap about 13 years ago and had mild dysplasia. I had the colposcopy and the LEEP procedure almost immediately, followed by an acid wash 6 months later because the LEEP didn't get it all... Knowing what I know now, I would have insisted on a second opinion or waiting 6 months to see if it was still abnormal.

Because of my LEEP procedure, I now have a stenotic os (that would be a cervix that doesn't dilate) and can't have a baby the "normal" way. Another possible outcome of the LEEP is that they have to remove too much of your cervix and then you have an incompetent cervix and can't keep the baby in.

These days though, I think the common philosophy is to wait 6 months and see if the abnormalities resolve themselves. I think if you do some research that in the vast majority of cases they do resolve.

to you... call your doctor back and ask questions. It's so hard to know what to ask when they slam you with news like that. Your mind is going 100 mph, and you can't think clearly until much later. I'm sure you'll be ok.