HPV positive

[Robin410]

I am a healthly 50 year old female who has had paps since I am 18. They have all been fine until the last one which was in March '08. It showed "abnormal cells" Positive for HPV the "bad cells". I immediately had a colposcopy and that was benign.

So, now what? I am still getting my period although not as often as before,

I have an appointment tomorrow for another pap. This would be almost 5 months from the last one.

What happens now? If it's already tested that I have the bad cells but the colposcopy came back negative, what should the next step be?

[ibizan]

well that is good the colpo came back negative...ur doc may wait to see if bad cells go away...some times they do..do u have a healthy immune system?and keep up with all reccomended paps!

[Tee921]

I am 24 and in April 2004, I also had an abnormal pap leading to my first colposcopy.  Thereafter, I had three more colposcopies over the course of the next year, and it hadnt changed.  Thereafter that, I was advised to have 3 consecutive NORMAL pap smears within six months of each other, which I did, and as of April 2008, the bad cells are gone, and I can now visit the GYN annually like everyone else!!  If it is mild, as mine was, it will most likely clear on its own.  If it progresses, cryotherapy (freezing bad cells) will usually be the next step! Hope this helped!!  Good luck..