Colposcopy while preg?

[shmer24]

I just had an abnormal pap a few months back, and now I'm told I need to have a colposcopy done. Because of my insurance i'm forced to go to an OB, and frankly, I don't trust all of his advisements. I'm 13wks pregnant now. Does anyone know if this procedure is ok to do while pregnant?

[veganf]

What are the reasons? What were the abnormal results? If it's something like abnormal cells suggestive of HPV than it may very well resolve on its own. I had this happen...twice. Just get a follow up pap every 6 months, but I'd be nervous having that done during pregnancy. Personally I'd wait until 6 weeks postpartum.

[Mumof3Nic]

I had a colposcopy done with my second later in pregnancy. While it was rather uncomfortable and I was told I would probably bleed it wasn't too terrible. I didn't bleed at all but I was around 7 months.. I don't know if I would do it early in pregnancy and knowing what I know now I don't know that I would have done it until after the baby was born. When you are pregnant sometimes the pregnancy itself causes abnormal changes to the cervical cells. While I was told I had low grade HPV I have yet to have a reoccurence. I wonder how much of it was being pregnant. HTH.

Oh.. if you do have it done do not allow them to put a tampon in you. I didn't know any different when I had mine and they stuck a super absorbency tampax in my vagina.. That out of the whole thing was the worst. I didn't bleed at all and I had a wad of cotton shoved in there. Trying to get it out was HELL.

[becoming]

I had a colposcopy done at 6 months pregnant with my DD and will have to have two during this pregnancy. It is uncomfortable but not very painful, and there are no real risks to the baby. They can't do any biopsies or anything until after the baby is born.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

If it were me I wouldnt have any thing done that messed with my cervix while pg. Just not worth the risk of maybe causing a weak cervix or dilation.

[bri276]

I simply don't understand what the point is. I've been dealing w/ abnormal paps and treatment of HPV for over 5 yrs, incl. two colposcopies, cryosurgery, and LEEP. I continued to have abnormal paps throughout pregnancy, but no one mentioned doing another colp. until after the baby was born. Since they are not going to be able to perform any procedure on your cervix while you are pregnant, what does it matter what the colposcopy shows at this point? Especially since many women return to having normal paps after giving birth vaginally.

If the colp. shows mild dsyplasia, they're going to tell you to wait. If it shows God forbid cancer, which is almost completely impossible if you've been having normal paps up until now, they'd STILL have to tell you to wait, because nothing can be done during pregnancy, yk? I thought the whole point of a colp. was to take biopsies of the abnormal areas, anyways. I'd refuse it. JMHO.

[kerikadi]

I've had 3 colposcopies - I had cervical cancer 12-13 years ago.
I would NEVER do a colposcopy during pregnancy. I won't even have a PAP during pregnancy and certainly not a colposcopy.

Keri

[krismarie]

i had one while pg...but it was an unplanned pg and i was more worried about cancer than possible miscarriage. i didn't miscarry but i was told that is a possibilty with colposcopies while pg.

if i were you , i'd wait. as i just posted in another thread, after the birth of my ds--i've had all normal paps...i was told the abnormal cells were "shed" after the birth.

[mrsalf97]

My friend needed a colposcopy and her dr. would not do it while she was pregnant. She had it done at her 6 week checkup.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

I had an abnormal pap a couple of years ago and then lost my insurance coverage so I never did anything about it. I had a *feeling* that it would resolve itself on its own. When I got pg and got medical insurance back, I had a pap done and it came back just fine.

In Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom Christiane Northrup talks about how she will see patients that have some sort of unresolved issue with sexuality, relationships, etc. with abnormal paps that have normal ones as soon as they tackle the emotional issue. Not that you necessarily have an issue like that, but I am pretty sure that was what was going on with me. It was just interesting to me how our emotions can affect our bodies.

So basically what I am saying is to trust your instincts on this one, not your OB.