does HPV effect my chances of getting pregnant?

[steph0607]

I have just joined this forum so a little history...im 23 years old..i have a 4 year old son and after his birth i started having routine paps done..march '09 i got an abnormal result back..went back in a couple of weeks and the doc done this procedure where he took samples of my cervix and sent this for testing...results came back that i was positive for HPV..doc said not to worry that most women my age would test positive but it would go away in a couple of years on its own..doc gave me antibiotics and told me to come back in 6 months for another pap..since march '09 i have not had a normal pap...doc still doesnt seem worried but i was concerned if this would effect my chances of trying to get pregnant..my fiance and i are wanting another baby before our son turns 5! any advice would be so helpful...thanks

[steph0607]

I go to a GYN and have went to him for 6 years...he just seems to down play everything like its not a big deal and he sugguested having the cells removed if it took over 2 years to get a normal pap its been over two years and he wants to do the procedure but he said I could try to get pregnant before he done it..my doc has always been really up front with me and never try to make things sound better than they are but he just seems so passive about this and I'm not sure what to make of it

[Hollyv]

I looked at some of your past posts and it appears that your Dr. has already suggested to remove some lesions which would be a LEEP. I think you should think about getting a second opinion in order to understand this better. I don't think that there are many physicians that would suggest that you should continue to try to get pregnant with moderate dysplasia (if you have that). You also posted that your Dr. said that if they removed the dysplasia and that would be the LEEP procedure that you would not be able to carry a baby to full term. The term for that is incompetent cervix (makes the cervix a little weaker), but that does not always happen. And if it does, there are ways to deal with that such as a minor surgical procedure and sometimes bedrest at the end of the pregnancy. Many women have LEEPS and are able to get pregnant afterward and deliver with no problems. Maybe you need the LEEP and maybe you don’t but a second opinion may help you sort that out. You should try to eat well, exercise daily, don’t smoke and get adequate sleep. I think it might be difficult for you to conceive at present with an active infection in your cervix. You need to talk to an OB/Gyn that understands cervical dysplasia. I am surprised that anyone would suggest a LEEP without doing another colposcopy first since you have not had one in 2 years. Also you need to find a GYN that does a lot of LEEPS and is an expert in this area if you need to have one. A LEEP can get rid of the abnormal cells. Once the abnormal cells are removed (if you need to have a LEEP), it should make it easier for you to get pregnant. Hearing that you need abnormal cells removed is often scary but once someone explains this to you so that you can understand will help to bring down your anxiety. Hope this help.

[kld44]

You shouldn't have any problems concieving due to HPV...don't worry, hun! :o)

[Hollyv]

It is hard to tell because most wait to clear their HPV (normal Pap) before they try to conceive. HPV is an infection in the cervix with changes in some of the cervical cells. The presence of HPV should not affect your ability to get pregnant but sometimes it decreases the mucous in the cervix making it harder for the sperm to get to the egg. In some women, the hormonal changes of being pregnant can speed up your abnormal cells still  in your cervix making them more abnormal and could affect your future fertility. Are you seeing a family Dr. or an OB/Gyn? It is possible that the moderate dysplasia diagnosis was with the colposocpy and that your most recent Pap is just a low level but I would discuss all of this with your Dr. in order for you to understand better.

[steph0607]

I am a carrier of group b strep so I have to be hooked to and antibiotic when I deliver so the baby isnt effected..the doc told me I had moderate dysplasia...he told me it was ok to try to get pregnant but I didn't know if having hpv would make it harder to concieve

[steph0607]

I am a carrier of group b strep so I have to be hooked to and antibiotic when I deliver so the baby isnt effected..the doc told me I had moderate dysplasia...he told me it was ok to try to get pregnant but I didn't know if having hpv would make it harder to concieve

[Hollyv]

Usually after 2 years the pap would go back to normal in most women, some may take a little longer. It is possible it is very mildly abnormal which would be ASCUS but moderate dysplasia would be a level above mild. Only your Dr. knows what level of abnormal they are. I would want a normal Pap before I got pregnant so that I knew my cervix was healthy. It appears you have other issues going on if you need an anti during delivery so it is possible that your immune system is taking longer to clear this. You just need to follow your Dr.'s advice and discuss any concerns with him/her. Good Luck..

[steph0607]

I don't know what ascus lsil or hsil mean...my doc knows that we are ttc..I haven't had I normal pap in over since march 08...I was going for yearly paps after I had my son and in march 09 is when I got my first abnormal pap aand they all have been abnormal since then..I have only had one colposcopy and that was after the abnormal pap in march 09..

[Hollyv]

It is hard to help with just a small amount of information--your Dr. is your best source. HPV does usually clear up especially in young women. You did not say what your pap results were, were they ASCUS LSIL or HSIL. The procedure that he did when he took samples is called a colposcopy. Is that when he told you that you had moderate dysplasia? You need to find out what your most recent Pap was. You need to discuss with Dr. your Pap results and that you would like to get pregnant--It would be better to wait until you have a normal Pap to get pregnant. That means the HPV is gone. If you have another abnormal Pap, they may want to repeat the colposcopy. If the colposcopy continues to show abnormal cells they may suggest that you have a LEEP procedure. This just removes the abnormal cells. Then you can get pregnant.

[steph0607]

I was also hoping to get a better understanding of what is going on with my hpv...the doc said that I have moderate dysplaysia...not sure about that spelling.. and lesions on my cervix but I don't have the strain that causes warts...doc said we would just monitor it because it usually goes away in women my age within 2 years...it has been over 2 years and there has been not change...what could this mean

[kld44]

There is such a slip chance of the baby catching HPV through delivery-if it does happen, the baby gets what's like a strep infection. I'm 32 weeks pregnant  with HPV and I have discussed this with my OB. He said that he has NEVER seen a case where the baby is infected through vaginal birth. You CAN still get pregnant too! :o)

[steph0607]

I have the strain of HPV that causes cervical cancer not warts...I have lesions on my cervix and not really sure what that will do to the baby if anything...I have to be hooked u0 to an antibiotic when I deliver because of other reasons would that help?

[iGrief]

Hallo, from what I know, it does not. Life still goes on as per normal except for HPV. So you're good to go. I too, want a baby of my own with my girlfriend someday and I ask that question to many people. I was in another forum for HPV Support Group with many moms that has HPV who give birth to healthy children.

The only thing to take note of is if the lesions are present during child-birth, there is a very small risk in transmitted the virus to the child. Please, please, please inform, for the sake of your family, the doctor and gynecologist (sp?). During childbirth, they MIGHT have to do a c-section to prevent any transmission of warts. Transmission of warts to children is very rare, and even rarer when your gynecologist is informed of the HPV as they will take precautious. I have also read that in the 'worst' case scenario should the child get HPV, it should clear within 1 year.

So no worries! You can have a child, life goes on as per normal, you're good to go! Now go and have your baby!