So I keep hoping and praying for everything to just GO. SMOOTHLY. this pregnancy (since the last one went horribly and ended at 10 weeks and pretty much nothing went right from the start of it)… but instead little bumps and pot-holes keep popping up. First, it was the spotting (which is still continuing btw, never stopped, but light and always brown), then my progesterone dipped a little. Now today I finally got the results of the pap they did back at my last visit, Apr.29th ish, and nurse called saying my cervical cells are showing as abnormal. This is not brand new for me - I had the same thing happen back in 2003. Was told HPV was the cause, had a colposcopy (which became it’s own nightmare because I developed a raging, month-long pelvic infection from the colp - UGH). The cells were the low-grade, watch and wait version of trouble. But anyway, I continued on and after about a year, was told everything had gone back to normal. That’s what I heard from every pap since.
Until I moved out here to [name]Vegas[/name] and switched to a new doc. She did the first pap on me about 8-9 months ago and those came back abnormal too - but she didn’t even recommend a colposcopy at the time. [name]Said[/name] it wasn’t a big deal, let’s just wait. But now that she got these results, the nurse said today that when I go back for my next u.s. on [name]May[/name] 29th, they’re going to want to do another colp. Needless to say, I am scared to death after how horribly wrong the last one went (and yes, it hurt). Plus, how can it be safe to snip out a piece of my cervix when there’s a baby in there??
Anyway, as always I’m just looking for any support or reassurance. Anyone else have experience with abnormal cells during a pregnancy? [name]How[/name] did your doctor treat/proceed with it? If you have an absolute horror story, I’ll go ahead and say right now I am so very sorry for whatever you went through but please don’t share right this minute, my mental health can’t handle it right now. Thank you!!! <<hugs>>
I got a pap showing abnormal cells when I went for my first pregnancy. My doctors said they wouldn’t do anything about it while I was pregnant, but to get it taken care of when I come in for my 6 week PP checkup.
Ask your doctor why it’s important that this is done now, and why can’t it wait until after you deliver? Especially if this has been an issue for a long time, I don’t understand why the doctors want to start doing procedures now, early in a pregnancy?
Personally, I’d refuse the colposcopy until I was no longer pregnant, unless the doctor had a really,really convincing argument of why it needs to be done now. What happens if you get another pelvic infection from this one? (which may be even more likely with an immune system compromised by pregnancy). Or get a second opinion, at least.
I would definitely recommend talking to your doctor and getting a second opinion if necessary. I’m so sorry you have more worries to deal with. I hope everything works out soon!
I don’t really have any advice, I just want to say I hope everything goes well for you! I agree with leadmythoughts - Be absolutely sure before having another colposcopy and maybe get a second opinion if you’re not sure. Good luck.
I have had abnormal PAP’s, but not during pregnancy. I’d suggest really boosting up your antioxidants and keeping your immune system supported right now. That’s one of the best things to do until your MD figures out your next step. I can’t imagine that your doc will want to do anything to compromise your cervical tissue right now.
I had a colposcopy a few months back and they asked me a bunch of times if there was any possibility whatsoever that i could be pregnant, because if i was, there weren’t going to do the procedure. Since i wasn’t on birth control, they even went through dates ofwhen my last period was and when i last had sex. So, i’m really surprised that they’d want to do it when you’re early in pregnancy. Yes, definitely ask why it has to be done before you deliver, and why it wasn’t a big deal months ago when you first got an abnormal result. And, yeah, what would happen if you got an infection when pregnant?
Oh gosh, i’m so sorry you’re having to go through this stress, but don’t panic, just calmly think about what questions need to be asked and collect as much information as you need to feel comfortable. Best of luck and lots of hugs!
HUGS I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this. Personally, I wouldn’t let anyone near my cervix while pregnant, especially after having had miscarriages previously. I agree with whit32 and sarahmezz, get a second opinion.
It very, very much depends on what the pap report says. [name]Do[/name] you know the exact pathological diagnosis? Treatment algorithms vary widely in their acuity depending what was seen.
Thank you so much, this is pretty much exactly what I was hoping to hear. I can have a hard time standing up for myself against doctors and saying no when I don’t want to do something that they do want to do - but since there’s a baby involved, that might help this time. I am absolutely 100% uncomfortable with the thought of having my cervix disturbed in any way! I’m already scared to death for this baby, the last thing I want to do is mess with anything.
@blade: unfortunately, the nurse gave me very little info when she called. No specifics at all. I’m thinking about calling back to ask instead of just waiting until the 29th. But I do have the pathology report from the last pap - but there’s so much info I’m not sure which parts would be helpful to you? The Cytologic Interpretation says: Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy. It also says negative for High Risk HPV Type 16 and Type 18.
But yeah, I realize that there may have been changes and maybe that’s why they’re concerned.
Thank you all again, I very much appreciate the support. You all are helping me and my stress level more than I can say during this tough period. Hugs to all of you! If I decide to call and get more info, I’ll come back and post what they say.
ETA: Just called them and asked them to mail me a copy of the Pap report. She said she’d send it out today so if she actually does, I’ll have it on Friday. Fingers crossed!
I had an abnormal pap result at my first pregnancy appointment, I was around 8 weeks. They said not to worry about it and that they would do another pap after the baby was born. They did at my check up after the delivery and everything was normal. I also had a lingering yeast infection for the first time ever when I got pregnant, and the nurses kept saying “Pregnancy throws your body out of whack sometimes, don’t worry.” So, maybe they are right…
My advice is: try to relax as much as you can and drink plenty of water. I always felt the best when I was fully hydrated.
“Abnormal pap” runs the gamut from ASCUS, low-grade (Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance) to CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) to high-grade dysplasia (bascially, about to become cancer any day now) to full-out cervical cancer.
A colposcopy is just a look-see. Your cervix is painted with vinegar (yes, vinegar-- it was discovered a century ago to light up areas of atypical cytology and works like magic) and punch biopsies can be taken if abnormal areas are seen. The punch biopsies do NOT increase the risk of preterm labor. The punch biopsies get a great deal more tissue than a pap smear (which is a random scraping) and nails down the pathologic diagnosis. From there, you’d be counseled as to whether or not actual excisional treatment is needed.
Excisional treatment-- which is recommended even in pregnancy if the lesion is CIN or higher-- does increase the risk of preterm delivery modestly (odds ratio increases from 1.0 to 1.6 in one series which did not control for the amount of tissue resected-- in another paper where <10mm of cervix was taken, the risk of preterm birth did NOT go up). It’s a risk-benefit decision made to balance the health of the mother and pregnancy does NOT impact adequately treating her for cancer or pre-cancerous lesions.
Anyway, see what the pap report shows. If it’s ASCUS all you’ll need is a colposcopy (which is again just looking, plus or minus very superficial biopsies if an abnormality is seen).
Thank you [name]Blade[/name]! I’ll come back with the info I get off of the new Pap report. I hate that I even have to think about this right now but it is what it is I guess. It’s reassuring to read the info about the “punch biopsies” (YIKES, even reading that makes me cross my legs) not being risky to the baby but my experience with the horrible pelvic infection after the last one has left me scared regardless (interesting semi-relevant side note, the doc who did that procedure shut down her practice a few months later and disappeared off the face of the earth. Odd.). So I’m happy to let her look - but unless she see’s something immediately life threatening to myself (or the babe, of course), I’m going to take a temporary pass on the biopsy part. Thank you again! And I just noticed your due date in your signature, mine is 12/8/13.
@blade: I feel bad specifically bothering you about this again. I know you probably get tired of medical advice/questions since that’s your work… but I am very worried so I’m hoping maybe you can help clear it up? I got the report for the new Pap results today. The first problem is that the doctor used a different lab - so the reports aren’t the same and I’m having a hard time comparing them.
But this one says, under “Interpretation: Epithelial Cell Abnormality. Atypical Squamous Cells - of Undetermined Significance.” So it is that ASCUS you mentioned. I’m just trying to be sure of what’s changed - what I’m thinking is that my first report showed no epithelial cell abnormalities (or intraepithelial?) but my latest report does show it…? I wish they would make a report clearer for us lay-people.
Anyway, thank you again so much for taking the time to offer your thoughts, it’s very appreciated!
ASCUS is exactly that-- undetermined significance. It can be caused by anything from infects to a poor sample to actual pre-pre-malignant cells. Since your last pap was normal, you are very very low-risk for cancer, but have the colposcopy to reassure yourself. ASCUS is the least worrisome possible diagnosis.
[name]Hi[/name] - I had my first abnormal pap ever with my last pregnancy and did the colposcopy, but no biopsies. Luckily, she didn’t see anything that would make her want to - but no problems after and back to a normal pap post delivery. Good luck! I was totally stressed out about it, but it turned out fine. [name]Don[/name]'t be afraid to stand up for yourself and ask questions - hopefully your doctor will reassure you that she/he is as serious about protecting your cervix (and baby) as you are!
@blade: thank you so much, I needed to hear that reassurance. It’s just bugging me so much because I’ve had nearly 10 years of perfectly normal Paps - now I finally get pregnant, and have SO much to worry about already, and the Pap comes back abnormal TOO?? Come on! But I’m feeling better about it.
@mjc7709: always nice to hear from someone who went thru something similar, thank you for sharing! I will definitely do my best to stand my ground with what I’m comfortable with and what I’m not. She can do the vinegar thing (see [name]Blade[/name]'s earlier post) and look all she wants, but I don’t want to risk another pelvic infection like I got with the last biopsy. So unless it’s something that’s endangering my life immediately - or the babys - a biopsy can wait. It’s just another annoying thing to add to my already-too-long list of worries! But that’s life, I know! Thanks again
