Got Pap result that I have LGSIL - lots of ?s

[scaredaboutpap]

Hi,

I just got a pap result saying I have LGSIL and I have a ton of questions - can you help?

1. Does this mean I have HPV?  I have never had any warts and neither has my partner (to our knowledge) but we have had unprotected sex since we are in a monogamous relationship.

2. He was in a monogamous relationship before, and has a child.  His previous partner has not had symptoms of HPV but I am almost certain she was exposed to it (he was my first partner and the only person I have had unprotected sx with, so in all likelihood I got HPV from him, right?).  Is it possible for someone to be exposed to HPV and never have symptoms of it?

3. I sometimes have bleeding after sex and between periods.  Could this be related?  Also, I have recently noticed that one of the lymph nodes in my neck has been getting swollen (it lasts a few days and then goes away) - do you think there is any connection?

4. My doctor said I should get a pap every 3 months to see if it goes away.  Is there anything else I need to do now?

Thanks a lot for your help.

[simplynat]

HPV is the causitive factor for 99.8% of all cervical cancers and dysplasia so if you do have dysplasia then you would have had an active infection at one point or naother with a high risk strain(s) of HPV. A pap test is only a screening test though and your would need a colposcopy in order to be diagnosed with a definite level of dysplasia. HPV is very common though - 80% of people will have an active infection by the time they are 50, just most will never have any idea because the majority of the population will clear an infection without any ill effects. Many people have HPV but never develop any symptoms - being symptom free does not mean HPV free. Also, condoms are only 70% effective so HPV can be transmitted even with the use of condoms, it is a contact virus so it can be transmitted through skin to skin (genital) contact and could feasibly be transmitted without intercourse.
or even with simple sexual (genital) contact.Dysplasia caused by HPV is a result of a high risk strain(s) of HPV and not a low risk - or wart causing strain. So warts don't have anything to do with cervical dysplasia. For most women, they will never know they have a high risk HPV infection until they receive an abnormal pap, or if they are over 30 and are tested for HPV. A woman can test negative through a digiene test (HPV test) but it doesn't mean she doesn't have HPV it only means that there is not an active infection at the time of testing. HPV has an ability to lay dormant for years and the HPV test cannot detect a dormant strain(s) of HPV.
Low grade dysplasia (CIN1) most often will clear on it's own without any medical intervention, especially if you are able to clear an active HPV infection (push it into dormancy) so a watch and wait is a very common practive. Have you been tested for HPV? If you test positive for HR-HPV infection for longer than 6 months but the pap comes back clear or low grade you should still be referred for a colposcopy.
In regards to the bleeding and lymph nodes, a low grade cervical dysplasia (or HPV) would not be causing those symptoms. You may want to check with a doctor in regards to that.

[Wesson30]

I just had an LSIL diagnosis on PAP and have spent the last 6 weeks getting a colposcopy, biopsy, and ECC and consulting with a gynecologic oncologist.  I have asked most of these questions to my oncologist so here are the answers I have gotten:
1.  Yes, this means you have HPV.  
2.  Yes, it is possible to have HPV and never have any symptoms.  By the way there is no such thing as protected sex when it comes to HPV.  The condom can't cover all of the genital skin.
3.  I don't know.  The bleeding could be the result of HPV but it just as easily could be from something else.  Same for the lymph nodes.  I am making the assumption that you may have HPV orally too.  You should see your doctor about the bleeding and lymph nodes although the two may not be related to each other at all.
4.  Getting a PAP every 3 months is standard recommendation.  However, your doctor should also test you for HPV.  If you are positive for a high risk HPV virus you should have a colposcopy immediately.  Is there anything else you can do?  YES, read some of the posts here and you will get information but the immediate things that come to mind are stop smoking, exercise regularly, lose weight if you are significantly overweight, eat fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid red meats and sugar, take a supplement designed for HPV control which contains curcumin, drink water, avoid excesses of alcohol, rest, avoid stress, stay current on your tetanus and flu vaccines.  There are reasons for all of these suggestions but the bottomline is that these things can actually help your body to fight off the HPV.  Good luck!