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"slightly abnormal" pap

TooPatient

TooPatient

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Has anyone had a slightly abnormal pap test?

"We recently performed your Pap test: Some slightly abnormal changes were seen on your Pap test. This is known as Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS). This means that there are minor changes in the cells of your cervix. Based on your age, a test for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) was done, and it was negative for high risk strains (this is a normal result)."

They recommend I follow up withanowith Pap test is three YEARS.

Given my family history of cancer, I am NOT waiting for three years. Just wondering if anyone has had this happen before and how concerned I ought to be...
 
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I’m no doctor of course but I’ve been told slight changes aren’t a cause for concern. If there were more significant changes they would or should order a cone biopsy - that’s where they actually remove a tiny piece of your cervix for checking rather than scrapping a few cells off.
You could consider having another Pap smear to check the result and get a referral to a gynecologist to satisfy yourself.
Here in Australia is you get a slight abnormally they normally suggest a yearly Pap smear until you get 2 normal, then back to every 2 years.
 
I vaguely remember that I had a slightly abnormal Pap smear several years ago. I was told by my gynae that it was nothing to be concerned about, though I did follow up with another Pap smear within 6 months and then yearly thereafter.
 
I’ve had one where I had to get a biopsy and then follow ups every year. The biopsy actually removed the small (tiny!) area of concern and I’ve now gone back to whatever the frequency is when they aren’t concerned.
If it was a cause for concern, you wouldn’t be on the 3 year check up, you’d be more frequent. What sort of cancer do you have in your family? Is there any suggestion that any of it is sex-linked or genetic?
 
I am about to have surgery for vaginal dysplasia. If you want to know absolutely everything about pap smears and HPV from a patient's point of view (no claim to medical knowledge), I can tell you. You probably do not need to know all that I now know, however. What I can tell you is do not let them stop doing pap smears on you! Do not ever let them tell you that you are at an age when you no longer need them. (My GYN was going to stop doing mine.)

An abnormal pap smear without HPV showing does not cause anyone to do anything different. Once HPV shows up as well, the GYN sometimes does a colposcopy, a biopsy of the cervix. The colposcopy will show whether anything further must be done, and often nothing further must be done. If something further must be done, there are different therapies that a GYN can do, usually in his or her office. My daughter had one, a leep procedure. I have had another: cryotherapy. If the colposcopy shows an abnormality in the vagina, the GYN usually refers the patient to an gynecological oncologist, although she does not have cancer, for specialized treatment. That happened to both my daughter and me.

You are at the point on the spectrum where you do nothing. You are fine. Just do not let your doctor stop testing you. But even if there is ever anything that is found that is more abnormal, you will be fine. The great thing is that you are being tested and everything that is found can be remedied. Pap tests are wonderful. Do not worry!

Edited to add: I just reread. I would not wait three years. In fact, I might switch doctors if mine found an abnormal pap smear and then recommended a three year wait. You should have a pap test every year if you had an abnormal one. At least I would. You want to know if there is a change.

Deb/AGBF :wavey:
 
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Decades ago, when I was in my 30's, I had an abnormal result. Can't remember how abnormal, but my GYN did a LEEP procedure like Deb's daughter had. After that I had to go every 4 months for so long, then back to once a year. About 3 years ago, I had the HPV show up. They did nothing, but watched it for just over two years. They said it often reverses itself on it's own within two years, which it did (and I did research on it and that is often the protocol that is taken. Although I will say it did coincidentally reverse at the same time I started iodine supplementation) But I did have to go in every six months during that time. I tell you all this only to ease your worries on not doing anything right now and just waiting and watching.

I too would demand a yearly visit though, and get a different doc if yours is not accommodating.
 
AGBF said:
I am about to have surgery for vaginal dysplasia.
Deb/AGBF :wavey:
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Praying everything goes well my friend.
bighug5.gif
 
@TooPatient while there is no cause for alarm at this point definitely do not wait 3 years. As @Ellen and @AGBF wrote make sure you get a yearly pap test now that you have had this abnormal result. But it is nothing to be worried about at all. Due diligence and monitoring is what is necessary.

@AGBF sending you lots of good wishes and good luck for your upcoming surgery. (((Hugs))).
 
Thank you for the good wishes, Ellen and missy. I am trying to consolidate a lot of my medical "stuff" into the next couple of weeks. Since I have to see my nephrologist in Virginia (need blood work and urine testing for him) and need clearance for surgery from my internist here in Connecticut (GYN demanded blood work before that) I am just sending all my doctors everything. Just came back from the lab now. Hadn't really planned to share that I was having surgery, but I'm glad I did. I always think I am going to die when I get anesthesia. Even though I am going to be in Virginia with him just a few days before, my husband is coming up to Connecticut to hold my hand for surgery. He isn't all bad. :)) I apologize for the threadjack.

Deb :wavey:
 
I would not wait 3 years. I'd get a repeat pap and see what it says. I'd also ask that it be sent to a different lab.

I had this many, many years ago and wound up getting a colposcopy, LEEP, etc. Haven't had an issue since then.

@AGBF

Just make sure your anesthesiologist is board certified and you'll be fine.
 
I had this years ago (in my early 20’s). They did repeat paps every 6 months for 2 years, and when nothing developed, I went back to normal yearly screens. I doubt they were testing for HPV back then (it was the early 90’s). Nothing has been an issue since (and I’m on the 3 year schedule now).

ETA: for nothing more than good peace of mind, I’d probably be inclined to ask for more frequent screening. Even if you have to pay out of pocket for it, it’s worth it if you’re going to worry.
 
The CDC has changed frequencies for Pap test and mammograms to longer period of time between tests. Yet I continue to see women get diagnosed at a later stage of their illness. Although 3 years is the recommended frequency, I get an annual test. I’m not a medical professional but if I had your history, I would request for Pap test annually if you can afford it. We have to be our own advocate for our health. Doctors are human and make errors too.
 
An abnormal one is ok and not cause for concern but always get your pap! You have family history so get it done yearly.

I never had normal paps, EVER and it took a very long time for a doc to take me serious when I said something was wrong (I got the you're too young and its in your head bullcrap) Thankfully I had a doc finally listen, pay attention, and do the necessary stuff before the cancer was too far gone.

@AGBF take care and please let us know how it goes.
 
eh613c said:
The CDC has changed frequencies for Pap test and mammograms to longer period of time between tests. Yet I continue to see women get diagnosed at a later stage of their illness. Although 3 years is the recommended frequency, I get an annual test. I’m not a medical professional but if I had your history, I would request for Pap test annually if you can afford it. We have to be our own advocate for our health. Doctors are human and make errors too.
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One of my closest friends is an Ob/Gyn and she always tells me get yearly paps and mammograms. She gets yearly paps and mammograms also.
 
AGBF said:
Thank you for the good wishes, Ellen and missy. I am trying to consolidate a lot of my medical "stuff" into the next couple of weeks. Since I have to see my nephrologist in Virginia (need blood work and urine testing for him) and need clearance for surgery from my internist here in Connecticut (GYN demanded blood work before that) I am just sending all my doctors everything. Just came back from the lab now. Hadn't really planned to share that I was having surgery, but I'm glad I did. I always think I am going to die when I get anesthesia. Even though I am going to be in Virginia with him just a few days before, my husband is coming up to Connecticut to hold my hand for surgery. He isn't all bad. :)) I apologize for the threadjack.

Deb :wavey:
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No need to apologise! Women being able to talk with other women about this sort of medical stuff helps all of us. This is the sort of thing people keep all quiet about in person so no one knows what to expect or even warning signs to watch for.
 
I had an abnormal smear, which resulted in a colposcopy, followed by a cone biopsy. I then had annual smears for 25 years, and now I’m back to every 3 years.

They no longer do cone biopsy here in the UK.
 
Like others, I had a couple abnormal paps, colposcopy, hpv testing (positive), and ultimately (this was 1996) a leep procedure. After that, two paps six months apart, then yearly.

All has been fine since. (Except for the part three years later where the scar tissue didn’t stretch much to let my baby out :shock:)
 
ringo865 said:
Like others, I had a couple abnormal paps, colposcopy, hpv testing (positive), and ultimately (this was 1996) a leep procedure. After that, two paps six months apart, then yearly.

All has been fine since. (Except for the part three years later where the scar tissue didn’t stretch much to let my baby out :shock:)
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:eek2::eek-2:

Youch! I'm glad you are okay.
 
I have had one before. Nothing to worry about. Just go back again next year. There are a million reasons for a slightly abnormal pap.
 
Arcadian said:
@AGBF take care and please let us know how it goes.
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Thanks, Arcadian!
Also: I knew you had cancer in the past; I didn't know what kind. It was cervical?

Deb
 
luv2sparkle said:
I have had one before. Nothing to worry about. Just go back again next year. There are a million reasons for a slightly abnormal pap.
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I entirely agree about the million reasons for having an abnormal pap. I have had abnormal ones that just "went away" on their own in the past. But I also agree that TooPatient should, voluntarily, put herself onto a one-year cycle for pap smears. Having "too many" pap smears is not potentially harmful like having too many x-rays!

Deb
 
I contracted high and low risk HPV from being raped when I was 19, I had cryotherapy and a LEEP procedure done since the cryo didn’t work. I was tested twice a year for the first year and then once a year regular paps, the 3 year thing is new limit. My doctor even suggested it even with my medical history. But honestly a pap can give a false reading or your body can correct whatever is going on. I would just have a yearly pap to be on the safe side.
 
AGBF said:
Thanks, Arcadian!
Also: I knew you had cancer in the past; I didn't know what kind. It was cervical?

Deb
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uterine and colon. the colon reoccurred again after (caught early) but has been fine since.
 
Arcadian said:
uterine and colon. the colon reoccurred again after (caught early) but has been fine since.
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I'm so sorry, Arcadian. That sounds more difficult than cervical. I am so glad it is under control!

Hugs,
(((Arcadian)))
Deb
 
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