Young Woman- Irregular Pap- Help!

[jwsw1234]

Hi-

I am 21 yrs old and just received bad test results from my Gyno.  She said my pap smear showed signs of HPV.  I was so shocked (and scared).  I do not think I have any genital warts, so this is the first indication that anything was wrong.  I am very worried. I have so many questions! My doctor said my next steps were to either go right ahead and get a colposcopy in 1 month or to wait 6 months and get another pap smear to see if the virus is dormant.  She said it is up to me! What do I do? I told my mom I had irregular results, and she is leaving it up to me.  I don't know what to do, or even what my diagnosis means at this point, and I am very scared and stressed out.  Has anyone has similar experiences?  What did you do?  Anyone have any advice? I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

[sweetsybe]

Don't panick. HPV is a virus and many times the body can clear on its own. I was also very scared when I was told I had HPV - that was two years ago. I go in for a pap smear every three months, each time it is abnormal I have a colposcopy  (which is quick and easy - only pain is like a period cramp and that's only if they do a biopsy). Many times HPV doesn't show any symptoms. It may not be a strain of HPV that causes warts. It could be a strain that eventually develops into cervical cancer. However, it takes a LOT of time to get to that point. The important thing is to continue going to the OB/GYN to have it monitored. I wouldn't worry too much about and just wait and see if your body clears it up on its own.

[turkee23]

i just got diagnosed myself with HPV... they said i had the moderate case and they did a colposcopy  and now they want to do a cone biopsy in october. im nervous about it as well but gotta do it ya know......i suggest doing the colposcopy  , that way they will tell you weather or not its a severe case or if its cancerous.....like sweet said its not a big deal your cervix doesnt have the same nerve ending that lets say your hand would, so they do not numb  you or anything and like sweet said its only a mild cramp for a few mins as they do the biopsy, but nothing serious a little bleeding or the dark brown medicine that they put to make you stop bleeding..... i personally thought i was going to pass out for a min but thats only because i looked when i wasnt supposed to and i actually saw them removing the piece of tissue they took for the biopsy, so if i give you any advise i would say just do the colposcopy and let them see how bad (mild, moderate or severe) it is..... take it from there.... if you smoke STOP that only makes it worse.....let me know or message me if any questions.......good luck!

[jwsw1234]

Thank you, I am slightly relieved, so thanks for your advice.  I will make an appointment to get a colposcopy.  I do not smoke, anything else I should do?  Do I need to be tested for anything else?

[turkee23]

if they did a pap smear they prolly already tested you for the normal STD's and UTI and things like that ....if they said that was ok then i wouldnt worry about anything else except for the HPV..... just make sure its not serious and it will put your mind at ease.... when i first found out i was freaking out!!.... i did soooooo much research that when i went back to the doctor i basically explained the whole thing myself they were impressed on how much i had learned...... so make that ppt and then do your research but dont let the internet freak you out too bad like it did to me!.....i went back to the doctor like a weirdo and thought i had full blown cancer and that i wasnt gunna be able to have babies and a whole bunch other crazy things.....NOT THE CASE!!!!.....its not that serious!...... good luck let me know what happens