posted
"Person A" is a 27 year-old female. She has received pap smears with normal results throughout her life until her last one. It came back abnormal. The doctor informed her that she needs to go back for a colposcopy.
From my brief research, I understand they only require them if these is definitely something not right, otherwise they would just do another pap smear in 6 - 12 months.
Now, I also heard that the majority of these issues are from HPV, and the majority of adults have this at least once during their life. I also heard they HPV isn't something to really worry about, and it goes away on its own. Unless of course, it is a certain strain. I also found out that there is over 150 strains, and only 3 of them are bad. Even if you had one of those 3, they have about a 1% chance of that turning into cervical cancer. Also,
Given the current situation and my limited research, how worried should I be? Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this subject? Any recommended course of action?
The bottom line is that I love "Person A" very much and want to anything possible to help.
Posts: 468 | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
They are done when there is an abnormal finding, but pap smears are screening tools, not diagnostic ones. It just means that something is not "normal" and needs to be checked out further.
Don;t look up every thing that COULD be wrong, you will only make yourself crazy. Let the MD look, and they tell you IF you even need to worry. If you need any additional information, ASK him.
I hope it all works out well for you.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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I just worry the most because from what I have read is that they usually do the colposcopy after the 2nd abnormal result, not right away after the first.
Posts: 468 | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
I had a colposcopy after one abnormal PAP; they found nothing scary and all my PAPs have been perfectly normal since for years. Could be some doctors are just more proactive than others.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:colposcopy indicated if positive - LSIL (low-grade squamous cell intraepithelial lesion), HSIL (high-grade), ASCUS (atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance) with high-risk HPV DNA, ASCH (cannot exclude high grade lesion), AGC (glandular cell abnormalities), AIS (adenocarcinoma in situ), abnormal cervical appearance, persistent undiagnosed vaginal discharge or bleeding (J Fam Pract 2003 Jan;52(1):64), commentary can be found in J Fam Pract 2003 May;52(5):390
immediate colposcopy recommended for LGSIL:
1,572 women with LGSIL randomized to immediate colposcopy vs. HPV DNA testing and liquid-based cytology (colposcopy if HGSIL or LGSIL plus high-risk HPV types) vs. repeat cytology every 6 months (colposcopy if HSIL), all women followed every 6 months for 2 years with colposcopy at 2 years, LEEP offered for CIN grade 2 or 3 at any visit or persistent CIN grade 1 at 2 years
About 15% women had CIN grade 3 within 2 years in all groups immediate colposcopy had 55.9% sensitivity for CIN 3 within 2 years HPV. Triage strategy arm closed early since > 80% women were HPV-positive, so not useful for triage. Single repeat cytology with HGSIL threshold referred 18.8% women and detected 48.4% of CIN 3
Reference - Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003 Jun;188(6):1393
posted
Several years ago I had an abnormal PAP, a colonscopy (which turned out normal) a sonogram (which showed an abnormal mass on my ovary) AND surgery -- which revealed a harmless benign growth on my ovary, which they removed. No more problems.
Just keep in mind there can be lots of very good results even with the scary tests before-hand. Don't expect the worst. Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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