Abnormal Pap Smear

Hi A.,
A website I just learned about which has some basic info on HPV and cervical cancer (for anyone out there who is interested...) is www.tellher.com

Yes, I think we all have at some point. Honestly, there is nothing you can do until they repeat it or follow up in some way. There is no point in worrying until there is something to worry about.

A., My name is S.. I have had 3 abnormal paps in my life. Mine were nothing. Some mess up with the tests. So try not to be too scared. Im not saying they messed anything up. But all 3 of mine were mess ups in the tests!

S.

Hi A.,

I know exactly what you are going through. I had an abnormal pap in 1999. They had me get a second pap, and it too came back abnormal. I was scheduled for a colposcopy which is a painless biopsy they do in the office. It's kind of like a pap, just takes a little longer. When that came back abnormal, they scheduled me for a LEEP. Because I am such a big bad chicken and baby (I am also an RN) I convinced my doc to do the LEEP in the OR rather than the office. After that, I had to have repeat paps every 6 months for a year or two, and now I am back to once a year. They have all been fine ever since the LEEP. I also have had 2 little girls since the LEEP. Try not to get too wigged out, yet. It may very well be a bad pap due to a bacterial infection that is easily treated with antibiotics. If it isn't, there are lots and lots of relatively easy options to consider to treat this. You are in my prayers. Let us know how your repeat pap goes.

I have had several, the main thing is to try not to worry, mine were just nothing after the second one if it come back abnormal they will want to check your cells that was mainly uncomfortable. I pray yours is nothing at all like mine.

I've had that happen to me before. Everytime it has happened though, I've gone back to get a second Pap smear and it's come back perfectly fine. It happens to my mother too. Sometimes it's just wierd, what can I say?

I'm sure you'll be fine.

I have had one before that ended up being no big deal. My doctor told me that it happens alot and not to be alarmed...they just want to make sure.

Hey there A.,

I'm so sorry that you are nervous! It's so scary. I had an abnormal pap this year. It turned out to be nothing at all. There are so many factors that could contribute to an abnormal pap. (Stress, hormones, etc.) Try not to think about all the scary scenarios until you know for sure. Hang in there until your recheck, and then try to deal with things as they come up. If you worry now, you may just be working yourself up to find out that everything is fine.

Good luck to you!

C.
www.EnhanceYourWayOfLife.com

I've had these as well and they are nothing to stress out over. Just follow the doctors orders for the follow up and you are likely to be fine. Mine had turned out ok and so has all of my friends that have had similar pap smear results. Like the reply said before me it could be tons of reasons why it showed abnormal.

I know it is hard not to be scared. I have had it happen to me once before and it turned out to be nothing.. Everything was ok.. Just try and keep yourself busy that way you won't think about it too much.. Before you know it Monday will be here and everything will be just fine.

www.workathomeunited.com/missouri

I've had that before and freaked out as well. I was retested and it turned out to be nothing. My doctor mentioned that it may have come back "abnormal" because the cells where going through a shedding process (the dead cells were falling off). I wouldn't worry just yet, but I know what you are going through.

I have had 2 abnormal paps. The first one was many years ago (in my single days) & it turned out to be "pre cancerous cells" & i had them lasered off- mild dysplasia. It was a 30 min. procedure & it was a lil painful but that is b/c they did not numb me!! I had to go for a pap every 3 mos after that for a year.
The 2nd abnormal pap was 3 yrs ago -i went in for another "recheck" pap & it turned out fine. Sometimes it all depends on when you go -lil things can mess up a pap.
Don't worry yourself to much. Atleast you are on top of things now. Best wishes.

Hi A.,

When I was your age I had an abnormal pap smear with pre-cancer cells. They did a cone biopsy in the office and retested. The retest was normal and I have had normal tests since then. I know techniques have changed and most definately improved in the last 25 years... Good luck with your retest.

W. Q

Yes A., I have had two abnormal Pap smears over the years. It turned out the first was probably because as a young vain woman, I douched before going to the Dr. Each time I repeated the test and it came back OK, although I had to be tested every 6 mo. for a year. I am now 73 yrs. old and have had no more problems. Good luck!

Most likely it is not a worry. If this is the first time you have had a re-check it is often absolutely nothing to worry about. With all the new treatment they have the few areas that are not "normal" can be removed. You will be fine. The important thing is that you are getting checked and most likely will be checked more often. Been there done that and am fine. Good luck!

A., I have had to abnormal pap smears. Once when I was 22 and it came back as pre-cancerous cells. I had the laser surgery. I then went on to have a little boy. Then I went back for my yearly checkup and it came back abnormal again. I again had more pre-cancerous cells and the LEEP procedure. I am not waiting for the go ahead to have another child. :)

Hi A., I am 56 and my sister is 52 and she always
has had a abnormal pap smear and everything always turned
out. Please hang in there and everything will be fine.
No explanation just that the cells always showed an abnormality but it has never been anything. God Bless,
L. Sanders

I've had abnormal paps and I found out when I was pregnant with my daughter I had HPV. I was kind of scared too because I didn't even know what HPV was at that time. They did a blood test to determine which strand I had and I had cervical dysplasia--just abnormal cells that like to change sometimes basically. They do my exams a little more often now just to keep a close watch to make sure things aren't changing--which in my opinion is a great idea anyways. Last I knew the statistics said that 1 out of 4 people will get the virus and most wont even know they have it. It can lay dormant in your body for years before actually showing up.

I hope that your recheck goes well and you are fine :) Try not to worry. It'll be just fine :)

I have had 2 this year but my colposcopies keep coming back normal. Anything can make your pap abnormal it seems these days. I worried myself sick after the first one, but when the biopsy came back free and clear, I was a little less stressed on the second--also free and clear. My dad swears it is some kind of insurance scam!LOL! I don't know, but I know I did get a clean bill of health. I know this is not always the case, but, as my wise mother and sister both said while I was freaking out, that is why you get your yearly checkups--so you can stay on top of these things. Best of luck to you.

I think I was 17 or 18 when I got my first abnormal pap smear. I wasn't worried at first because nobody bothered to tell me anything important and being so young I didn't know what questions to ask. I was told I had dysplasia later and when I asked what that was, the RN snapped, "It's dysplasia!" Like everyone 18 year old knows what that is.
As it turned out I has pre-cancerous cells. I had to have my cervix frozen which was very painful for me (I've talked to other women about that and it seems to be more painful for people who have more painful periods).
It took almost 5 years for me to have a clean pap and not have to go back for a year instead of every 3 or 4 months, but now I am healthy and I had an easy labor!
My suggestions to you are to ask questions of your doctor or nurse (sometimes the nurse has more time and is more symapthetic to your worries). Ask anything and everything. Make sure you stay informed! When I was frozen, they didn't tell me they were going to do it at that appointment, they just sprung it on me. One last thing, try to stay calm. Most women get an abnormal smear at some point and it turns out to be nothing. Don't what-if yourself to death.
Good-luck!

Yes I had one of these twice so far. Don't be worried just yet. A number of things can give a false abnormal result. Be happy they just said recheck meaning another pap...once you are over 35 or have certain medical conditions they will do a biopsy and I had one and it is painful! Oils used with sex and antibiotics and a number of other things can give false abnormal results. Don't worry just yet. Both of mine, even the biopsy came back normal. It can be scary I know but worrying won't help.
L.

I had an abnormal pap a few years ago. As it turned out they didn't collect enough fluid to properly run the test. I am sure everything is fine.

Hi A.,

Do not worry, I had an abnormal pap smear once, and it turned out to be nothing to be concerned about. In my case, it was when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. There are many reasons that paps' results are sometimes abnormal and usually are just hormones or certain conditions not bad at all. It is normal though, to feel scared, but you will be fine. Take care and relax...

Doctors prefer to err on the side of caution. Age is on your side. Try not to worry until there's something to worry about, and if there's anything you don't understand, ask questions until you do. Sending up a prayer for you,
T.

I've had an abnormal pap smear, there's really nothing to be afraid of. It's alot more common than you think. My advice to you is to calm down, don't manifest something that's not there. We often think the worst and then the worst happens, maybe if you think the best the best will happen. I was diagnosed with HPV it's an infection that causes dysplasia and pre cancerous cells, it's VERY common and can easily be treated and the body self heals in many cases. If that's what you have you'll be fine, I am. Good luck!

Yes I have. It was a bactrial infection. Was given medicine and all was cleared up. No worries. Many times it only means the test was inclusive. And the lab needs another sample.
45 yr old Mom of four.

I have had the same thing come back with my pap smears but usually it is nothing big. Just pray about it and it will be fine.

Yes I have. I was preggo with my daughter and I had my first pap smear ever. They said it was abnormal. Turned out it was HPV. 80% of sexually active ppl. have it and never know it unless there is a hormone imbalance that makes it pop up. Don't be scared. You might be stressing yourself out for nothing. Also.. so many things could hinder the results of the culture they took. I'm a med. assistant and believe me.. that shit happens more than most ppl. know. Be patient. Be calm! Good luck