![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Heather852 on June 29, 2006, at 0:18:14
Yesterday I got a call from my GYN that I had an abnormal pap smear and was exposed to HPV. She said there are no visible warts/lesions.
My boyfriend and I have never had unprotected sex, and I'm hoping that he was never exposed to it and has HPV as well.
The thing I was concerned about was the "abnormal pap smear". There was some kind of change in blood cells. I've been to the doctors several times in the past three months because of lower abdominal pains, irregular periods, and acid reflux. I also just started Birth Control two months ago.
Does anyone think or know if starting birth control or irregular periods could cause an abnormal pap smear? Because of my irregular periods, I wasn't able to schedule my annual exam at the GYN while I wasn't menstruating (because I didn't know when that would be). Would being on your period during an exam cause abnormal pap smears?
Posted by gardenergirl on June 29, 2006, at 0:31:15
In reply to Abnormal pap smear/HPV.., posted by Heather852 on June 29, 2006, at 0:18:14
From what I understand, having your period can affect the accuracy of a pap smear. Having a yeast infection can also give a false positive.
If your results are the lowest level of abnormality, and since this is, I assume, your first abnormal result, your doc likely will want to re-do the Pap in a few months. If it's beyond that, many docs will have you come in for a more thorough eval and perhaps treatment.
HPV is a pretty common virus, and I believe it's a bigger issue for women than men (lucky us). Not to alarm you, it has been associated with other more severe problems down the road, so it's good that it was caught early. It's quite often a hidden virus, showing no outward signs of infection.
I hope that everything works out okay.
Take care,
gg
Posted by Heather852 on June 29, 2006, at 12:35:21
In reply to Re: Abnormal pap smear/HPV.. » Heather852, posted by gardenergirl on June 29, 2006, at 0:31:15
> If your results are the lowest level of abnormality, and since this is, I assume, your first abnormal result, your doc likely will want to re-do the Pap in a few months.
Yes, this is my first abnormal pap smear. And from what I've researched, most people who get HPV have visible warts/lesions. I do not have those. My GYN said it was so mild, but I'm not sure if since I was on my period that an abnormality would show up.
Thanks for your feedback.
Posted by gardenergirl on June 30, 2006, at 9:04:02
In reply to Re: Abnormal pap smear/HPV.., posted by Heather852 on June 29, 2006, at 12:35:21
I hope it all goes well.
gg
Posted by Lonely on July 1, 2006, at 0:52:51
In reply to Abnormal pap smear/HPV.., posted by Heather852 on June 29, 2006, at 0:18:14
I've heard that it's important to abstain from sexual intercourse for at least 24 hours prior to the test too. Semen could possibly alter the test results. Since you're having protected sex, could it be you're allergic to latex? Don't give up on protection, though!!! Anything that goes into the vagina during foreplace or other times could also cause a temporary and benign change. GG had some good points too.
> Yesterday I got a call from my GYN that I had an abnormal pap smear and was exposed to HPV. She said there are no visible warts/lesions.
> My boyfriend and I have never had unprotected sex, and I'm hoping that he was never exposed to it and has HPV as well.
> The thing I was concerned about was the "abnormal pap smear". There was some kind of change in blood cells. I've been to the doctors several times in the past three months because of lower abdominal pains, irregular periods, and acid reflux. I also just started Birth Control two months ago.
> Does anyone think or know if starting birth control or irregular periods could cause an abnormal pap smear? Because of my irregular periods, I wasn't able to schedule my annual exam at the GYN while I wasn't menstruating (because I didn't know when that would be). Would being on your period during an exam cause abnormal pap smears?
Posted by wishingstar on July 1, 2006, at 10:54:27
In reply to Re: Abnormal pap smear/HPV.. » Heather852, posted by Lonely on July 1, 2006, at 0:52:51
Just wanted to add my experience.. I also had an abnormal pap about 9 months ago that showed mild to moderate HPV abnormalities. The doctor did a second pap to confirm it. He then just let me go and had me come back about 6 months later to see if it had changed, and sure enough, it had disappeared. Apparently it disappears on its own in many women, especially when it's mild as yours is. I also was pretty nervous about it when I first found out, but ended up never having any symptoms or problems. I hope you have the same experience. Good luck. :)
Posted by Fi on July 2, 2006, at 7:53:37
In reply to Abnormal pap smear/HPV.., posted by Heather852 on June 29, 2006, at 0:18:14
I hope that you have had the chance to talk to the GYN? She would be much the best person to explain it best?
I know that, in general, pap smears are done as part of preventing cancer. They can pick up changes in the cells that can sometimes be a sign that cancer might develop- not that its there already. Then they can treat those cells, before they have the chance to change.
I think that these changes happen slowly enough that waiting a few months can be OK. And sometimes the cells change back to normal on their own.
I dont know how the other symptoms and situations might make any difference. But do speak to your GYN soon, if you havent already? There's a good chance things are less alarming that you think at the moment, but nothing I say will really reassure you.
Thinking of you.
Lots of luck
Fi
Posted by Heather852 on July 2, 2006, at 9:00:44
In reply to Re: Abnormal pap smear/HPV.. » Heather852, posted by Fi on July 2, 2006, at 7:53:37
Yes, I have talked with my GYN, but the only thing they can do is wait until my Colposcopy at the end of this month.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Health | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.