yearly pap, ladies?

[ysi]

How often for you? Have you ever had a result come back not completely normal? What did they want to do because of that?

[JustLurkin]

Sept 19, 2011 13:34:47 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I had an abnormal pap a long time ago..probably about 15 years ago. They did a biopsy of my cervix which showed pre-cancerous cells. They ended up doing cryo-therapy where they freeze your cervix (it hurt like a you-know-what!).

I don't remember the cryo hurting, but my biospy hurt.

ETA: For a few years I had paps twice a year, but haven't done that for awhile and my doctor hasn't made a deal of it.

[ysi]

My gyno told me everything is fine no reason to do paps every year-I think she jinxed me because it for the first time came back with "atypical" squamous cells. Squamous cells are nomal, atypical is not. I then tested negative for that ppv thing or whatever they call that test. So Dr Google makes it sound like I will need to have the pap repeated in another 6mos and they wouldnt proceed to your ouch procedures till two paps in a row come back atypical and apparently it means my immune system isnt up to snuff?

[JustLurkin]

Sept 19, 2011 15:34:45 GMT -5 ysi said:

Dr Google makes it sound like I will need to have the pap repeated in another 6mos and they wouldnt proceed to your ouch procedures till two paps in a row come back atypical and apparently it means my immune system isnt up to snuff?

Naw, not necessarily...there are other reasons it can come back abnormal...like having sex close to the pap

One day of being abnormal out of 365 Like having a headache one day...it happens!

Best of luck to you!

ETA:

"Just Lurkin, I actually blacked out in the doctor's office"

I didn't have any pain killers for the biopsy, my doctor said it could affect the outcome. Ysi--you'd be surprised how many of your friends have gone through this--about half my friends had pain killers, half didn't depends on the doctor.

I didn't know for *years* that you are supposed to get a local before an epideral...yea, whatever, I would never ever never do that again!

[JustLurkin]

But the point of our posting isn't to scare you--you get the abnormal result, you have the biopsy, you have the cryo, then it's *over*. Just be sure to go regularly (even if regularly is 2 years) so if there are problems they are caught early.

[TheOtherMe]

I have gotten my annual pap annually for many, many years. I've never had an abnormal pap.

[lisaflex]

go every yr like clockwork...very important even if in monogamous relationshiop....had a few irregular paps in the past. been many years. had the cryo and colposcopy done in the past. hurts like hell. had to go back one day later for cauterization....but, its better than the alternative....

[wvugurl26]

My one last summer was abnormal. Had to have colposcopy done. That was not a lot of fun. Had a repeat pap done in April. Still abnormal but bc I'd recently had the colposcopy they let it go. Scheduled for another pap in October.

I got in fight with snotty nurse who makes appointments. She finally talked to my doctor who agreed I could wait till October for another pap and wellness exam since I had just had a pap done in April. Seriously I will go every six months if I must but if I'm in your office every six months in between you can damn well call me in a birth control refill. Dr asked if I needed it in April, I should have said yes.

All my paps were normal until last summer. The clinic I was going to said oh new recommendations if your last pap was normal you only need one every two years. They failed to mention the other part of that was if you still have same partner. Anyway I go every six months and I took the Gardasil shot.

[Cookies Galore]

I had an abnormal pap about six years ago. I had a colpo and repap six months later. I felt a lot of pressure with the colposcopy but it was really no big deal. Of course, i only had a small amount of abnormal cells so that probably made it painless. I go to the gyno every year. I have a family history of reproductive cancers so i need to be proactive with that, and i am on the pill so i like having an annual med check.

[ysi]

I found good info at the following website:
www.uptodate.com/contents/search

My own slides were sent over to another lab for further testing and interestingly to eval for that ppv virus. Thankfully it came back negative. Otherwise I would be blaming the instrument for infecting me lol.

They sent me a letter that I would indeed need to repeat pap in another year instead of the original "really not neccesary." I need to vamp up my immune system to make those bad cell changes go away-its happened too many times now (and what you all went thru sounds horrible.)

[mizbear]

I started having abnormal PAPs at 18/19 years old- when I was married the first time. I have PAPs as often as necessary- sometimes they have been 6 weeks apart because of surgery to make sure they got everything.
I have had the biopsies, the colposcopy, the cryo, the LEEP, the surgeries to remove the pre-cancerous cells. I'm not so fortunate that they will do a hysto.
I've had the HPV (humanpapilloma virus) test.
Not to scare you- but it is very important to be diligent with your health down there. The procedures hurt like Hades. That's with pain meds. No one else is going to advocate for you.

And a little note about HPV- approx 75% of all sexually active adults are infected. Many are asymptomatic (they do not show symptoms). You do not have to be promiscuous to get HPV.

[weltschmerz]

And a little note about HPV- approx 75% of all sexually active adults are infected. Many are asymptomatic (they do not show symptoms). You do not have to be promiscuous to get HPV.
----------------------------
Exactly! That's why I give Gardasil shots in the schools starting in grade 4. Because HPV is so prevalent, and you don't even have to have intercourse to get it, it's vital to vaccinate the girls before they become sexually active.
Once you're a sexually-active adult, it's usually pointless.

[JustLurkin]

Oct 2, 2011 22:12:39 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Once you're a sexually-active adult, it's usually pointless.

There are 4 strains of the virus--so even if you have 1 strain you should get vaccinated against the others.

My doctor hates such a big deal is made about girls getting the shot...the theory is IF alllll the girls get the shots the boys won't need them. Yea...if...

[weltschmerz]

Message deleted by weltschmerz.

[weltschmerz]

There are 4 strains of the virus
-----------------------
There are many strains, over 100. Some cause genital warts, some cause plantar warts, some cause skin tags, and others cause cancer.

[JustLurkin]

Sorry, misspoke--the vaccinations are for 4 strains, HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18.

[moxie]

At my age, 53, I was told to continue with the pelvic exam EVERY year, but the pap test every two years.

[moxie]

My daughter, her doctor and I discussed the HPV vaccine when she was 17, prior to her being sexually active. We all agreed she should do the series of shots (3). I am glad she did because someone she knows met a young man who apparently was quite sexually active before she came along and at 18 she showed symptoms of the virus...apparently contracted from HIM (he was older and he was her "first"). Her Dr. told her she is at high risk for cervical cancer and that childbearing may become an issue for her. Sad. She apparently was exposed before she had completed the last two shots in the series of three.

[moxie]

My son is 25 and I am thinking he should get the series of shots. He has been in only a few long-term, monogamous, heterosexual relationships and is very careful (we discuss this openly), but I think it may be wise to get the series. There are some recommending it for boys to young men, ages 9-26. HPV in men is linked to penile cancer and anal cancer in bisexual/gay men. Better to be safe than sorry.

[moxie]

GOOGLE HPV vaccine for men. Interesting. You cannot depend on just the women to get the series...some do not...anyone sexually active could be a carrier of the HPV virus.

[Spellbound454]

This disease can virus can effect anyone.... even those who are in stable relationships

Everyone should get the shots imo.......men can get throat cancer from the Pap virus too.

[moxie]

men can get throat cancer from the Pap virus too.

Yep...I recall something on the Net that that was the case with Michael Douglas' particular type of throat cancer...HPV linked???

[moxie]

I recall something I read linking Farrah Fawcett's type of anal cancer as being highly correlated with HPV too. Not sure...just read something to that effect.

[moxie]

People...USE CONDOMS!! Not that that is 100%, but I am sure it can help...

[moxie]

I tell my son to make sure his soldier always has a helmet on...

[moxie]

I also tell my daughter to make sure anyone she is interested in has a helmet on THEIR soldier at all times too!

[moxie]

I am available by appt. to speak to your teenagers about birth control. Been there, done that!

[moxie]

I also tell my daughter to make sure anyone she is interested in has a helmet on THEIR soldier at all times too!

^Did I mention that she is dating a Lieutenant...how fitting is that?!? LOL

[ysi]

So can you have the HPV virus in one part of the body and not in another part of the body? My test was not a blood test, it was a test done off the pap smear specimen.

I have wondered if I should now get the HPV innoculation since my test was negative, but innoculations worry me-I caught measles from the MMR and tested possibly positive on the TB and always have a major reaction to the flu shot.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Yes, every year since I started having sex. I had a high grade abnormal pap smear about six years ago, they did a LEEP and I haven't had any major issues since.

I've tested positive for HPV, and it never goes away, it's always there. So I've had flare ups but nothing requiring more than me coming in every six months to monitor it, it has cleared up on its own.

Every time I've had to have a cloposcopy which is really an elaborate pap smear. I've only had biospies done twice. First time was the high grade results and those HURT, she took 6 pieces of my cervix!

I was out for the LEEP and I didn't have any pain afterwards.

Second time it was just one tiny area of my cervix that was positive for HPV so she went ahead and just cut that part out, I barely felt that one.

I had a normal one before I started trying for a baby, a normal one when I was pregnant and a normal one six weeks after and then a normal one this September so I am crossing my fingers and hoping I am done having to come in every six months!