I just got a letter saying I had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and tested positive for HPV. The doctor wants to do a colposcopy and biopsy. Does this mean he thinks I have cancer or precancer. I had genital warts a few months ago, could there just be some inside the vagina that caused the bad Pap or could it be something more serious. Can warts be the cause of a bad Pap. I guess my question is what are the possible outcomes of this Pap result and a colposcopy and possible treatments?
2007-06-14 08:30:36 · 8 answers · asked by rayneyblu 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Your Pap smear definitely does not suggest that you have cancer. Atypical squamous cells are not cancer nor are they necessarily pre-cancerous. HPV types 16 and 18 are linked to cervical cancer but the presence of HPV does not imply that you have cancer. HPV types 6 and 11 are those which typically cause genital warts so in part what needs to be done is to determine whether you have types 6 and 11 or types 16 and 18. 6 and 11 are 'cosmetic' while 16 and 18 are far more serious. There is a vaccine with types 6 11 16 and 18 which all young women should consider. The colposcopy is done to 'high-light' the area of HPV infection in order to direct the biopsy. The biopsy will determine whether or not pre-cancerous cells are present and if so to determine their classification as intra-epithelial neoplasia 1 2 or 3. Grade 3 is carcinoma in situ or cancer restricted to a specific cell. The good news is that colposcopy and biopsy with appropriate follow-up care should prevent you from ever developing cervical cancer. Even if you have carcinoma in situ a LEEP procedure using a 'laser loop' is able to remove the cancer cells but leave the cervix and the possibility for future children intact. I wish you the very best of health and may God bless.
2007-06-14 10:47:35 · answer #1 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Abnormal Paps are quite common. Anyone who has had sexual intercourse with someone else who has had sexual intercourse with someone else has a very very high likelihood of contracting HPV.
Also, genital warts ARE Human Papiloma Virus (HPV). There is no difference. Your abnormal pap smear was because of the above viral infection. Women have a higher chance of forming warts, as opposed to men, which is very unfair. And not every infected person will develop warts either.
I say go ahead with the colposcopy because your cervix could be very inflamed right now and a possible need for antibiotics.
HPV just means your likelihood of have cervical cancer in the future is higher. But then, smoking will do the same thing to your cervix.
What "missbeauty4eva" wrote was very inappropriate, uneducated and ignorant. I had her reported.
2007-06-14 08:44:15 · answer #2 · answered by maroonbabycarrots 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Genital warts are caused by HPV. But like a previous post said, most people come in contact with it eventually, though not everyone develop symptoms (warts) for it.
I guess you were treated for the warts earlier, the colposcopy and biopsy is as simple. It is uncomfortable but very quick.
It's true that HPV was linked to cancer, but it's rare, and if you do your PAP test regularly, you will be fine.
2007-06-14 08:47:15 · answer #3 · answered by Nadine B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Several years ago I had a pap come back abnormal. I tested negative for HPV but a cervical biopsy showed that I had pre-cancer cells on my cervix. The biopsy is very uncomfortable, but not painful. It will cause you to cramp the way you would when on your period. I had the cells removed by laser surgery and had to return for a pap every 4 months for the next two years. The last pap I had of those two years post-op came back abnormal again. Still negative for HPV but more pre-cancer cells. This time the cells were frozen off in-office. It was very, very uncomfortable, but not terrible.
The thing to remember is that catching it early is the key. You'll be fine. Don't be scared or get yourself too worried.
2007-06-14 08:43:54 · answer #4 · answered by Sondra 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If not treated it could turn into cancer cells. If they find a problem when they do a biopsy, they may want to do a Chryotherapy session, which is just feezing off the abnormal cell tissue, the process is pretty easy. It is not all that uncommon to get an abnormal reading back and a good majoity of women have HPV also. For those of you that are putting her down for having HPV, this is something that you can get from not only sexual contact but physical contact (a hand touching a women's vigina, for example) and even from trying on a swimming suit at the store. A lot of women and men (although men have no symtoms and are not checked for it) are carrying the disease around with them and don't even know it while spreading it to their partners.
2007-06-14 08:42:56 · answer #5 · answered by littleone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you probably do have HPV, it's no big deal. I think its something like80% of sexually active women get it, and they have found it before it becomes cancerous, though it usually doesn't anyway. The coposcopy is a little uncomftoble, they just take some cervical tissue, and you will have to get a pap every 3 to4 months for about a year. once it clears itself up, twice the next year. It's no big deal, though, just make sure to go to all your appointments. And it's not incurable, it almost always cures itself within a year.
2007-06-14 08:37:19 · answer #6 · answered by jess v 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have HPV for life sucks for you.
2007-06-14 08:38:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well you have an incurable disease HPV. I feel sorry for you.
2007-06-14 08:35:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋