hi ash_ben,

I am confused by your advice. what do you mean be safe? of course the vaccine won't prevent against all types of hpv but, as far as I know, the only way to avoid it is through complete abstinence and possibly wrapping yourself in a body-condom so nothing all skin contact is avoided. even with the vaccine, the odds are you already have some sort of hpv if you've had any sexual activity. be informed that of the 150 types out there, only a handful (13) are high risk and the vaccine prevents against the one strain that causes more than 70% of cervical cancer.

patrioticcheese,

yes you are very right, I suppose that wasn't very clear. I don't think alot of people know that the vaccines available only prevent a very few strains of HPV.

I'm 56 and just got the call last Friday - my PAP results showed ASCUS with high risk HPV. My colposcopy is scheduled for two days from now. I'm glad I read this conversation thread, but I'd love to know how you're all doing as a follow-up. Needless to say, I'm pretty concerned.

not sure if anyone is still participating in this thread but i too am going thru what a lot of others are. ive been diagnosed w high risk HPV and ASCUS. on top of that i had battled Pelvic inflammatory disease for months...in and out of the hospital for antibiotic treatments. I have had two long term monogimous relationships. I am a mother of one (18 month old daughter) and had an mirena IUD placed in Feb. Ive been healthy up until i had that IUD. My theory is that i had the hpv but it was lying dormant and the placement of the IUD aggrivated it. Since about April ive been experiencing pelvic pain, low back pain, and lethargy. I am becoming depressed...not because i'm worried, but because im so tired and paralyzed at night i can't play with my baby. im just so sick of being sick! i even had a colonoscopy to rule out the pain possibly being intestinal. I am at wits end with no one to really talk to. i know ive rambled but if anyone wants to talk im here.
rockjem, MA
P.S. I am having a colposcopy today ill write back when i have results if it helps.

Hi, Rockjem - I couldn't tell from you post if you still have the IUD in place. When you go in for your colposcopy, you should ask your OB-GYN if that would be causing the pain. Perhaps you're also getting a biopsy since they discovered the ASCUS, which will tell you more. I know you're scared and depressed from the pain, but I'm sure your OB-GYN will be able to tell what's going on.

My colposcopy showed severe dysplasia with precancerous cells(CIN III). Normally that would require a LEEP procedure to remove the damaged tissue. However, because the shape of my cervix prevented the doctor from seeing up into my uterus, I'm having a cold knife conization performed on Sept. 1. That removes the tissue and they can test for signs of cancer farther up. Since I'm past childbearing years, I would almost prefer a hysterectomy if the test results show anything like that. But every case is unique.

Good luck with your colposcopy, Rockjem. I'm sure you'll start getting some answers soon. Knowing what's wrong and how to fix it makes everything a lot easier to handle.

Hi Lass53,

thanks for your reply. Yes, i had the IUD taken out immediately after being diagnosed with PID.

Thursday at my colp. appt. I asked the ob what to do about the pelvic pain and she told me to stop having sex for a long time! i'm 24 and already have the sex life of a 70 yr old. I mean come on now! I'm thinking of getting a second opinion.

As for the colp. of course it was painful but i have an appt for 9/1 for the results. She took 4 biopsies. Oh and yes they had discovered ASCUS and because I have high risk HPV they scheduled the colp asap.

Now when you had your colp done...as the doc was taking the biopsies did they make any comments...like on how your cervix looked? bad or not too bad?? maybe it could provide some insight on the comments my doc made.

So has the doc discussed hysterectomy with you? or are they just sorta taking it one step at a time? See I would love to have one maybe even two more children. But I would like to wait till my daughter's about 4 or 5. I just don't know how this, if it is anything serious, would affect my future child-bearing?

Well, there i go rambling again. if i dont hear from you before the 1st, good luck. ill share my news and hope you let me know how your procedure goes.

take care, rockjem

Hi, Rockjem -
When I had my colp, the doctor said it looked "irritated." But then the actual results showed severe dysplasia, so don't put a lot of stock in the comments, whatever they are. I had asked about a hysterectomy but they want to see the results of my conization first.

I've read a lot about women who have had a LEEP or conization and were able to still have children. A friend of mine just told me she had a LEEP done a couple of years ago (she's in her 50s, too) and she's fine. She just goes in every 6 months for another PAP.

I'll keep you posted about my surgery next week. And I'll be thinking about you, too. Let me know what your doc says!

Thanks again Lass! you'll be in my thoughts as well. i'll let ya know what the doc says.

Hi, Rockjem -
I had my conization on Tuesday, and other than some bleeding and cramping, I'm doing pretty well. Still a little tired and chilled at times.

I received a call from the nurse about the results already. The cone biopsy showed severe dysplasia (we already knew that) - but the good thing is that the "margin" is clean. That means they believe they got all the precancerous tissue and there were no bad cells closer to the uterus. Phew! So, other than my post-op next month, I don't need to go in for another 6 months - and that's for a PAP and another biopsy. So no hysterectomy at this point.

Did you see the doctor on Tuesday? What were the results?

Hi Lass!
Well thats great news! I hope your post op and next PAP turn out good. As for my colp, results were good and normal. They just want to monitor me so I too go back in 6 months. I am still thinking of getting a second opinion in regards to my pelvic pain. Especially since my hair seems to be thinning and falling out! My brother said he saw a bald spot and its been coming out in clumps in the shower. My first thought is thyroid? And my mother wants me to get another pelvic ultrasound because when i was about 14 i had an ovarian cyst and when all these started happening recently the first ultrasound i had showed excessive amounts of fluid in my pelvic sac.

So, although the results were good I still don't have answers. But maybe another doc can help me.

Well, thanks for checking in and i truly hope all stays well with you.

-Jamie

I'm so happy to hear your results were normal. And it's good that you're seeking a second opinion regarding the pelvic pain. I too have occasional pelvic pain but I tend to have swelling and varicose veins because of poor circulation. It's pretty temporary but can come on after running. Anyway, you're in my thoughts. Good luck to you.

hello .
I Just got my pap test result and it was ASCUS.. the doctor said it is between normal and little above normal .. and she suggested to redo pap test in six months !! I'm afraid i will have cancer by then or does it cause cancer !! NO Hpv test has been done !!!
I know before the pap test i was trying to touch my cervix for many times with my hand !! could that caused it??? please help

I'm not a doctor, but if the results are close to normal and your doctor didn't order an HPV test, I wouldn't worry. MANY people have HPV and it generally goes away on its own. There really isn't anything you can do to cure HPV, anyway. Also, the conditions that lead up to cervical cancer are extremely slow moving - that's why your doctor wants to wait and see if anything progresses over the next few months.

And no, there's no way that touching your cervix would create abnormal cervical cells, which is what ASCUS is. And if you do have HPV (although your doctor didn't seem to be concerned about it), it would have been sexually transmitted - you couldn't have infected yourself. You would have gotten infected by your partner, who got it from someone else. But don't jump to conclusions since you were not told you have HPV.

To ease your mind and make sure you have all the facts, you should call your doctor or nurse and discuss this. But it sounds like you really have nothing to worry about.

Hope this helps!

lass53.. Thanks Much for your answer.. You know i have had no partener for the last 8 years !!! i know i might got the HPV long ago .. but doesn't clear itself after 2 years ????I'm so scared specialy i have had no pap test since 2001 .. ....