Has anyone had an abnormal pap smear

[Aerie]

Has anyone ever had an abnormal pap smear?  If so, what was the procedure used?

[Aerie]

Just wondering:  You say to be sure and get folic acid, how does that play a positive role?

[JoAnnaRF]

Most women that have had these procedures say the same thing as you xray, that it wasn't really painful, just uncomfortable. I wish I could say the same. I have a VERY high tolerance for pain and prior to this I had 2 babies with NO drugs at all, and had just delivered my third with the BEST Epidural known to man. After her delivery, I tore inside and was bleeding to death so the DOc had to stitch me internally with NO anesthesia. 48 internal stitches!! And then 7 weeks later had the procedures mentioned above. I wasn't given so much as a Tylenol and I have to tell you, the Chryo was very painful for me. The Doc dialated my cervix which caused contractions which were equavalent to labor and after the procedure, I was so weak and sick my husband had to carry me outside and I threw up in the parking lot. I believe that my experience is RARE. NOT trying to scare the original poster, but now after hearing you say that it wasn't really painful, I wonder if my experience was so bad because I was only like 7 weeks PP. Since then I have worked in an Ob/Gyn office and assisted in the procedure and most women handle it beautifully with just a bit of discomfort. Shoot, maybe I just had a lousy doctor.

[xrayu2]

The worst for me was the bx of the endocervical canal-I cramped more with that.  I am sorry your experience was so bad.  It goes to show how different each person's expereince can be.

[xrayu2]

I was not HPV postitive either, I had severe dysplasia that effected 3 out 4 cervical layers.  My doctor truly though it was cervical cancer until the pathology came back.  Very scary!  I hope all goes well with you!  The procedures are not really painful but uncomfortable.

[JoAnnaRF]

My story is about the same as xrays. In 94 at my six weeks check-up I had a pap come back what was then called a Class 3. Don't think they class them anymore.. But yeah, Precancerous cells. Had Colpo, Biopsy and then Chryosurgery. Paps every 3 months for a year, then 2 times the next year. But by then was having Sam, born AFTER all that. I did have a problem during labor and delivery as scar tissue from the procedure was holding my cervix closed and wasn't dialating. A Doc snipped it away and went from 1 cm to 10cm in less than half an hour, so if you do go on to have children, make sure the Doc delivering you knows of the history.
Best of luck!
--J

[Aerie]

That is good new!!  Thanks for the info.  My doctor said the cells were abnormal/low grade.  I did ask about hpv and they said there was none reported.  So I'm hoping when I have the procedure done it will come back ok.

[xrayu2]

Yes. I had to have paps every three months for a year.  That was in 1995 and I had my first child in 1997 and two more since that time.

[Aerie]

Did everything work out ok?

[xrayu2]

I had a colposcopy, biopsy , then cryotherapy.

[Aerie]

Thanks for the info.....it does help.  The doctor said the cells are abnormal/low grade.  I asked about hpv and they said they automatically test for it when the pap comes back abnormal and there was no evidence.  I was just reading somewhere about folic acid....that is interesting.  I do exercise on a very regular basis and don't smoke.  I'm going for the colposcopy tomorrow.  Hopefully everything will turn out ok.....you here this and your first thought is cancer.

[Jenni6485]

an abnormal pap can mean anything. I had one, once.. and it was because there was some blood on the swab and it came up inconclusive.
You can have an abnormal pap if you had sex the night before, or just got off your period, have a uniary tract infection.. there are many reasons to have an abnormal pap, and it dosnt have to always mean you have an STI.
I hope you're clean and clear. Talk with the nurse about your abnormal pap, and you'll find out why.

[scaredwoman953]

I had one.  I first got it when I was 19 and it took 4 years to clear.  I did have HPV.  It was very scary, but I made sure I went to the dr when I was supposed to.  You need to keep yourself heathy, exercise, don't smoke, get lots of folic acid.  I don't even know how many colopo's I've had.  It's just a biopsy of some cells from your cervix.  It's just alittle cramping and then it's over.  It's just to make sure you have no abnormal changes on your cervix.  I was lucky to have a type of HPV that can go away.  
I know this is hard to do, but try not to worry.  I didn't let it rule my life on a daily basis.  
They are doing this procedure to make sure you are ok.  Just go to the dr when you're supposed to to make sure nothing has changed.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.