Colposcopy - was it unneccessary?

[midnight67]

Hi
I had a colposcopy 3 days ago due to having had ONE abnormal smear called "mild dyskaryosis" I asked my doctor about this, she said that it was very unusual for a woman to be called to the colp clinic for one abnormal smear.  But neverthless she advised me to go and told me that a dye would be applied to my cervix which would show any abnormal cells - if any were found then i would be treated there then, possibly by laser treatment.  My doctor said that she would be extremely surprised if anything showed up.  While being examined at the clinic i was asked to cough which i did - i felt a sharp sting.  I was told that i could go and get dressed and to use the antiseptic wipes and sanitary pads in the changing room! I was mortified - what the hell had the consultant just done to me? Why? When I emerged form the change room i was told that my "biopsy" result would be back in approx 6-8wks and they would call me back to the clinic if they needed to! Unbelievable - I was in a complete daze! I managed to see my own doctor that day who was shocked at my treatment.  I am currently waiting for my doctor to receive the results back from the clinic so that she can see exactly what the consultant did and why.  I am still having severe period type pains and slight bleeding. Has anyone else had a similar experience to this or tell me why this has happened to me after only "ONE" abnormal smear?  I thought biopsies were only taken if cancer is suspected?

[MissCoCo]

I was reading the comments you posted and am slightly confused.  I was wondering if you could possibly help me understand a few things a little bit better.

I have been going to the OBGYN since I was 16 and have always had normal paps.  I know  that if you have HPV it can lay dormat for years before ever showing up.  However, I recently had not been to the OBGYN for 2 years and after hearing about a friend who had abnormal test results and HPV I decided to go.

I too had an abmoral pap and tested for HPV.  My doctor said that I tested for High Risk HPV and showed signed of moderate dysplasia.

I went back in and had a colposcopy and biopsy then and there.  The test results of my biopsy came back negative for any signs of precancerous of cancerous cells.  WEIRD...But Good News all at the same time!

The doctor said that that was good news but also said that that doesnt mean there might not be any signs of percancerous or cancerous cells deeper into the layer of the cervix.  She suggested the LEEP treatment to take a closer look OR to come back in 3-4 months for another pap.  

I am not sure what to do...I dont want to have mild sugery if I dont have to but wont my next pap probally show up abnormal next time anyway because I tested for High Risk HPV???  I am so confussed and dont know what to do.  You explained that you had the laser treatment done before the LEEP.  Do you think the LEEP procedure is "jumping the gun???"  if my biopsy results came back negative from the colposcopy biopsy?  

The doctor did say that this was not an emergency and did not have to be done right away.  She said that I could either do the LEEP to get a closer look at the deeper layers of the cells or that I could just wait 3-4 months and do another pap (which if did come back abnormal again - she would have to do another colposcopy and biopsy again to send the results to the lab)

Any help and or advice would  be great!
Thanks

[MrsCoco]

I had an abnormal pap in December 2004. My mother died of cervical cancer, so you can imagine my concern.  

I did research on the net and changed OBGYN's to someone experienced in this area.  I had a Colposcopy...since I read up about it I knew that if any suspicious areas were seen, that they would do a biopsy right there and then.  They took two samples and the results were mild displasia.

The doc recommended LEEP for me, which I had done in April 2005. The strange thing is that the biopsy of the tissue they removed came back negative for any abnormality.  I don't know if possibly the bad tissue was destroyed by the laser??  But, since then my pap have been coming back normal...

I have HPV, which is more than likely the cause of the abnormal pap.  I'm told that I will just need to have regular paps to ensure the displasia doesn't come back.  But so far, so good.

[Jah02e]

I forgot to say that the abnormal PAP for me was my first as well and I have been having them done for years.  You will have bleeding for several days and the test results shouldn't take that long...mine were back in less than two weeks and my doctor did the procedure in her office...and they don't always come back saying that they saw anything so don't worry.  I am sure you are fine!

[Jah02e]

I had one done a couple of weeks ago and I think it was well worth it seeing that the test came back showing that there were abnormal cells still there.  My PAP was abnormal in Nov. and the colposcopy was done in Feb. so I am glad that my doctor is looking out for me in the long run.  I am pregnant so after the baby is born I have to have another one, b/c they were unable to look every where and there could be more that they didn't see.  My doctor and several others told me this was very common among women and it you follow up it can be cured if they find anything there. Good Luck!

[who_is_this]

Biopsies are taken if a suspicious area is noted after viewing the cervix during colposcopy.  Your practitioner should have told you of this prior to the procedure.  Then, a treatment plan is devised, depending what is found on the biopsy.  Not all suspicious areas are cancer, but it can't be ruled out unless a biopsy is taken.

[lhfoo]

I also had a coloscopy done in August and ended up having a cone biopsy in September. I had an abnormal pap and when I went back for the coloscopy, they did the dye thing told me to cough and I did have slight cramps for at least 2 days. I got the results in 1 week though and had my cone biopsy done in the end of September. I had severe dysplasia (it was not cancerous though) they had to treat it before it became cancerous. I had my pap done last week and the doc says my cervix is fine and there is no more signs of dysplasia. By the time you get your results, if it is serious you may have to have a cone biopsy or LEEP done. If not they probably will just have you follow up with regular paps to monitor it. Good Luck! Hope everything turns out well.