Abnormal Pap and Colposcopy

A bit uncomfortable but an abnormal pap is not the worse thing that can happen. The colposcopy has happened a few times for me. Just something I guess. No follow up after. It will be fine.

I had an abnormal pap smear and had a colposcopy in January. The procedure caused only mild cramping. I used an ipod during the procedure to help aleviate(sp) my anxiety. My pathology report came back normal, my follow up is to have a pap smear 3 months from the date of the colposcopy. If the MD is suspicious after or during the colposcopy he may want to perform a LEEP procedure. LEEP a thin low voltage electrified wire loop is used to get a biopsy higher up in the cervical canal or it can be used to obtain a larger sample of tissue during a colposcopy.

I had this done about 7-8 years ago now. I had an abnormal pap and then a colposcopy. I then had to have a LEEP procedure done. They got clear margins during that procedure and didn't end up having to do anything else. I haven't had any other issues since then. I had a great doctor that talked me through the whole procedure and told me exactly what she was doing and when. I hope everything works out okay for you. It can be a little scary, but everything came out fine for me.

I had one, was pretty uncomfortable. I had the LEEP procedure afterward, which wasn't as bad. Normal paps ever since, and I took extra folic acid after which is supposed to aid healing, my Doctor said I healed faster than she's ever seen! I did have issues with slow dilation during labor, which I understand can happen following the LEEP.

yeah, i had that a couple years ago. the colposcopy hurts, i won't lie. the bleeding after can be little or alot, depending on how you are. i bleed alot, so that's how it was. i wasn't offered anything to numb it. i didn't have to have anything done afterwards...just always have an abnormality when i get paps done.

I have one about every 6 months. The colposcopies are uncomfortable, but they keep coming back "low grade" abnormal and not getting worse. My aunt said that when she and her friends were my age, it seems like the 3 of them were getting them all the time too, but were all ok. (I'm 29).

I ask my dr to numb it before she puts any vinegar on or clips anything for labs. The first 2 doctors I had do them said their was no way to numb it, but my new one did it without even being asked! It makes it much better. And they put something on to keep it from bleeding too much, which feels kind of uncomfortable and cottony, and I still spot a little.

I had an abnormal pap (my first ever) while pregnant with my first child and had to have a colposcopy. The procedure was fairly quick and relatively painless. The doctor found some "abnormal looking tissue" and said that it often clears itself up after delivery which it did in my case so don't worry.

I had a colposcopy done 3 years ago. The whole idea of having abnormal cells was more scary than the procedure itself. I don't remember the colposcopy hurting - maybe a little pinch, but nothing that required Advil or anything. Sometimes the coloposcopy is enough to remove the abnormal cells. In my case, I went back and had cryotherapy done. Cryotherapy is nitrous oxide freezing the abnormal cells area(s). I had a lot of discharge following the cryotherapy and some cramping, but nothing too bad. I don't remember taking Advil for that either. I've had one child since and normal paps since as well.

Add me to the list. The pyschological effect is by far the hardest part of all this. Unless you haven't had any pap smears for 5-10 years... (it takes many years to develop into cancer) I feel this is so routine hospital staff can be insensitive. I would do your own research to ease your fears, here is webmd's page. Also look up HPV, which is likely what you have (along with the majority of women).

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/colposcopy-an...

I have HPV, a high-risk for cancer strain and had to areas of abnormal cell growth. They did cryotherapy and I've had normal paps since. I know others who had more invasive surgeries. No matter what, it will not be that bad physically because they know how to handle this disease. Unfortunately, it's a virus which means you will technically always have it.

The biopsy was painful for me - it's not for everyone. Just some motrin and a day to yourself is ideal.

Best wishes and take care.

Basically a culposcopy is just a scraping of the vagina area to get a little deeper tissue sample. Like scraping off excessive skin maybe. After having cervical cancer many years ago, I had culposcopy twice a year for a couple of years. There was no reoccurence of my cancer so it was discontinued. It isn't painful and just is a precautionary thing to determine if there are cancer cells in the area.

You can ask your doctor to use a Xylocaine injection before hand. My doctor did and that was the worst part (a bit of stinging sensation), but I didn't feel the biopsies. I worked for GYN's and they rarely used the numbing medications, and I found the women who had it did better. It does pinch and cramp when they take the biopsy. It is good that you are taking precautions to do regular pap smears and move on to the colposcopy. This is what the pap was designed for, so any abnormal cells can be sought out and removed. Good for you. I highly recommend all women make sure to have their pap test annually or every other year (as doctor's recommend) for this purpose.

Take care, and by the way, mine was fairly extensive, but all pathology came back fine and I went on to have 4 more children.

D.