Oh no, flunked my pap. « Back to Group Discussions

[tinams8]

I have one of the high-risk strains of hpv that can cause cancer.  Normally they do a biopsy immediately but they can't do it now, obviously. I'm going in next week and they will spray the vinegar on my cervix and look at it.   I've had one hpv+ pap a few years ago, but it went away by itself.  I'm guessing being pregnant and having a weakened immune system makes that less likely.

Anyone have any knowledge of this? I'm trying not to google. Yet.

[becoming]

I had the same thing for years. I did the vinegar thing when I was pregnant with my daughter, but I chose not to have biopsies done until after I had her because there is a small risk of miscarriage with the biopsies. Cervical cancer is extremely slow-growing (the slowest growing type of cancer), so any treatment should be fine to wait until after you have the baby. I ended up having a LEEP procedure done after my third pregnancy, and I've had normal Pap smears since. I had the high-grade precancerous HPV like you, too.

[AndtheStars]

I too have the high-risk strain of HPV and flunked my pap, colposcopy AND biopsy three months before we TTC.  My dysplasia is at stage 3.  They wanted me to do the LEEP right away but I declined because from what I can tell, there's more risk for fertility problems or incompetant cervix from scar tissue than they let on.  Becoming, I'm happy to hear that you got yours and haven't had any problems.  That makes me feel better for next time. 

Like Becoming said, it's a very slow growing cancer so I am comfortable just waiting until after delivering this kid and then re-testing to see what's still there.  I think that there is the chance that a vaginal labor will also slough off a bunch of the abnormal cells.

Don't Google.  I think that you're totally fine waiting. 

[FaithHopeLove29]

I failed my pap last spring and had a Leep this summer, I haven't heard back if I passed my latest pap (but I'm hopeful, because with my doc no news is good news) - She had already told me, though, we'd wait for biopsies and treatment until after baby is born, and I trust her very much. I've heard that labor can help remove abnormal cells too. As far as the Leep affecting future pregnancies, I'm at risk for a compromised cervix or something like that, so she's measuring me at 20 weeks, I think that's what she told me. I guess there are ways to avoid preterm labor if they notice the cervix isn't holding up. So that's my limited experience with it, but wanted to share.

[lia_joy]

I hadn't heard that labor sloughs off abnormal cells, but I had several abnormal paps starting after my first son was born and then after the birth of my second they suddenly came back normal and have ever since... I'd had a colposcopy before becoming pregnant and they determined it warrented observation, not LEEP... but I always felt like the pregnancy was what flushed it out of  my system, so that's interesting to hear.

[becoming]

Another thing I forgot to mention that my OB told me -- pregnancy can cause you to have more of these abnormal cells. So it's possible to go back to normal after pregnancy with no intervention.

[tinams8]

Oh wow, thanks everyone, I feel so much better.  Glad it's not just me, and it feels much less alarming now.  Thank you!!!!