If you don’t get annual Pap smears, you’re going to get some terrible cancer.
And it will end up killing you.
It’s all over the news.
Cancer’s a leading cause of death, right?
If you skip a Pap smear:
- You will feel guilty about not staying on top of that yearly ritual.
- You will feel sheepish when you finally do go to your Ob/Gyn.
- And once at your appointment, your doctor will reprimand you.
Or will they?
Cervical cancer is the one and only cancer that a Pap smear looks for. Cervical. Not cancer of the uterus, not cancer of the ovaries and not cancer of the vagina. Cervical.
Anyway, over the last decade, experts have learned some amazing things about cervical cancer and how to best screen for it and how to prevent it.
By experts, I mean researchers in organizations like the American Cancer Society, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the US Preventive Services Task Force. These folks, eat, sleep and breathe cancer prevention and rigorous evaluations of what works and what doesn’t.
Usually they don’t agree on the best ways to screen for cancer, but for cervical cancer, they do. You can read each of their takes here, here and here.
And what these folks recommend will surprise and perhaps shock you. This ain’t what our mamas told us growing up. These are new guidelines that are better at finding actual cancer. That are better at detecting changes that precede actual cancer by decades. That are better at keeping us well.
As radical as they are, the latest guidelines aren’t even that new. They have been around for years and in 2012 were fine tuned and widely accepted.
Here are 8 little known facts about Pap smears that you need to know.
Young women, especially those who just started having sex, have a high rate of mild cervical changes related to acquiring Human Papilloma Virus, HPV*(see box below). Contrary to popular belief, these changes resolve on their own. The immune system clears the HPV infection in an average of 8 months. We now know that despite this high rate of “abnormal” findings in young women, there is rarely EVER any progression to cancer.
The imperfect awesome analogy I like to use is that of a sunburn: when you get a sunburn, it’s not good, but it’s usually not the end of the world. If you took a skin biopsy at the time of that sunburn, it would probably show some mildly, abnormal changes, because, well, you burnt it. If your well meaning, cancer warrior dermatologist wanted to remove all of your sunburnt skin because of these mild changes, we would call this OVERKILL. Sure, your sunburn could lead to skin cancer, but it’s not cancer today, it probably won’t be cancer next year and more harm than good comes from lopping off all the skin on your burnt arm.
Paps in very young women are akin to skin biopsies at the time of a sunburn.
However, because we lacked this insight in the past, we used to do Pap smears at age 18 or at least within 3 years of having sex, regardless of age.
This generation of women who had really early initiation of Paps, had a large number of mild abnormalities. They then underwent biopsies and surgeries where part of their cervix was chopped off, all in the name of preventing cancer.
But, at the end of the day, no extra cancer was found.
Sadly, this bunch of adolescent women were labeled with a sexually transmitted disease at a time in their lives when even small things feel profound, had unnecessary procedures and to this day, many are left feeling like they just barely missed having cervical cancer.
IN REALITY: had we the wisdom to delay their Pap, less emotional duress and fewer pointless surgeries would have occurred.
HPV is a family of over 150 viruses that are associated with a variety of cancers and cause warts.
Most sexually active people get HPV.
Most people never know they have it because they have no symptoms and the HPV will never cause cancer or any notable problems.
There are many types of HPV. The types we care about are called oncogenic (likely to cause cancer) or high risk HPV.
For all practical purposes, all cervical cancer can be traced back to high risk HPV.
But, the reverse is not true: having high risk HPV alone, does NOT mean you’ll ever get cancer.
Number 2: You should only get a Pap smear every 3 years from 21-30 years of age. (There are exceptions to this rule**)
Cervical cancer is as slow as molasses. S-L-O-W. Even after a severely abnormal Pap smear, it takes 3-7 years for frank Cancer with a capital C to develop.
So, after a normal Pap smear, the chances of developing a cancer or even anything resembling a pre-cancerous change in the next 2-3 years is next to zero.
On the flip side, if Paps are done often, say, every 6-12 months, the chance of finding a mild change is really high. These mild changes are usually caused by HPV. They spontaneously regress because the human body’s immune system is cool like that.
In our enthusiasm to decrease cancer, we sometimes equate more testing with less cancer. If one Pap smear is good, 10 must be really good! But it doesn’t work like this. The cells on the cervix are dynamic and meaningful changes on the cervix take time to manifest.
Doing Paps too frequently is like measuring your hair length, every day. It’s like photographing a highway during rush hour, every minute. It’s like weighing yourself on the scale, every hour. It’s like, totally, too much, you know?
But, when we patiently wait 3 years between Pap smears, the body’s natural processes take care of mild changes. We allow time for the natural course of cervical changes to come and go without hastily reacting. And so, we avoid putting young, healthy people through extra tests, exams, procedures and freak outs. Without missing any Cancer.
This combination of a Pap smear and a test for high risk HPV is called co-testing. Testing this age group for both these things is no different for doctor or patient, but is extremely reliable and very sensitive at detecting problems.
Contrast this with HPV in younger women. HPV is so common in younger women, that is pointless to screen them for it because, although common, it doesn’t affect them and will regress on its own in 1-2 years.
In contrast, in 30-65 year olds, HPV’s presence is more indicative of a chronic, persistent infection.
The chances of developing or missing the development of a cancer or a pre-cancer change in the next 5-8 years after a normal Pap smear and negative high risk HPV test, is almost zero.
Recall, cervical cancer is slow. The vast majority of cervical cancer occurs when people never get Pap smears or got Pap smears too infrequently. To make this crystal clear, let’s consider some historical data:
In 1975, the United States had cervical cancer rates of 14 per 100,000 women. In parts of the world where screening is uncommon, rates can be as high as 40-75/100,000 women. Widespread Pap smear screening here decreased this to 2 per 100.000 women today. However, in our gusto to screen, find, and prevent this devastating cancer, we inadvertently reached a point of diminishing returns:
Pap smears done too often stopped picking up more cancer and ended up skyrocketing the numbers of women who underwent things like colposcopies (looking at the cervix with a device that resembles a big microscope on wheels), biopsies, repeat Pap smears (to make extra sure everything got back to normal) and of course, cervical surgeries.
Now, if you don’t have access to high risk HPV screening, a plain jane Pap smear without co-testing can be done every 3 years. Once you get to the age of 65 and you’ve had 10 years worth of normal Paps, you stop getting Pap smears, which brings me to the fifth little known fact…
Once your last 10 years of Pap smears are normal, when you turn 65, happy birthday, you stop getting Pap smears.
Likewise, after you get a hysterectomy, regardless of age, you stop getting Pap smears.
(Note: Just because you stop getting Pap smears, doesn’t mean you stop seeing a doctor or stop getting a pelvic exam; see Number 8 for all the details.)
With the exceptions listed below, continuing Pap smears after age 65 or after a hysterectomy causes great harm and no good.
Let’s dig into this a little further. A hysterectomy usually removes the uterus and cervix. Once the cervix is gone, what’s left is just the back of the vagina. A Pap smear of the back of the vagina doesn’t do anything to detect cervical cancer on the cervix you had removed. AND, like everything else that ages, so does the tissue of the cervix and vagina. This change in tissue causes falsely abnormal Pap smears once we are over 65. These false positives can lead to extra tests, extra anxiety, but, you guessed it— no extra findings of cancer.
So, after 65 or after a hysterectomy, all that is necessary at your yearly appointment is a pelvic exam (see Number 8).
However, this does not apply if you had any of the following:
- A supra-cervical hysterectomy (your uterus was removed and your cervix was left behind).
- A history of cancer of the cervix, vagina, uterus, ovary or fallopian tubes.
- A history of moderate or severe cervical dysplasia. (Dysplasia is when normal cells are replaced by abnormal cells.)
The general rule of thumb is if you have cancer or pre-cancer, continue Pap smears for at least 20 years after the cancer or the last abnormal Pap, even if this is after a hysterectomy and even if that means your Pap smears would continue beyond the age of 65.
Number 6: Pap smears done too frequently lead to unnecessary testing, biopsies, surgeries, worries and NOT to the discovery of more cancer.
The refrain from all these pointers is the fact that more testing does not detect more cancer. And that’s that. Now, just as the older guidelines evolved, so too will our current understanding, but for now, it’s the best we’ve got.
Women who are infected with HIV.
Women who were exposed to Diethylstilbestrol or DES while in utero. If you’ve never heard of DES, with all due respect, you weren’t exposed to it. DES was used in the 1940’s and 50’s for many ailments including prevention of miscarriage, but was later found to cause a rare vaginal tumor in female fetuses who were exposed to it when their mother took it.
Women whose immune system is compromised. For example, they’ve had an organ transplant and are on immune system suppressing drugs. If you think your immune system isn’t robust because you get a lot of colds, with all due respect, that’s not the kind of compromised state meant by these recommendations.
In a nut shell, these groups should be screened earlier and more frequently than everyone else.
Number 7: If you have HPV, it doesn’t matter! Your immune system will keep it in check (unless you are in the populations listed above).
Almost completing this list is a simple, but easy to miss concept.
People who have sex get HPV. It’s kind of like getting a common cold. It’s annoying, but it won’t kill you.
HPV’s presence is only important if there are high risk types present for long periods of time AND your Pap smears are severely abnormal. Most of the time, our immune system keeps all types of HPV in check so that it can’t cause cancerous changes.
The fascinating finding of nicotine in the mucus on the cervix of women who use tobacco helps make sense of the higher rates of abnormal Paps and cervical cancer in tobacco users: smokers’ immune response to HPV may be wimpy because of the nicotine.
Number 8: Just because you had a pelvic exam, even if it included a speculum, doesn’t mean it was a Pap smear.
One last little known piece of the Pap smear puzzle remains.
A Pap smear is completely different from any other pelvic exam. It requires a speculum and a very particular kind of swab that resembles a broom or a pipe cleaner. It is a swiping of the cells on the cervix that is sent off in a special container to a special lab for special evaluation.
Just because you endured a pelvic exam, even if it was with a speculum, even if it was memorable and special, at the ER, primary care office, or walk in clinic, it does not mean it was a Pap smear.
Conversely, when you stop getting Pap smears, we still recommend you get yearly pelvic exams. Women have more parts than just a cervix that require regular checks. To drive this point home, check out artist Jamie McCartney’s exhibit, the Great Wall of Vagina. In case it’s not self evident, it’s a site for grown-ass people.
Let’s be clear: most people don’t know these 8 facts.
Why?
I believe our vulnerability in the face of the unknown and our fear of cancer, fuels a kind of paranoid tunnel vision. When we discover a test that can prevent something on our Please-Don’t-Let-Me-Get-This list of diseases, we equate more testing with less badness. It’s human nature.
Not surprisingly, we overcorrected with our over-testing and now we must change our tune.
Another reason why these 8 facts are little known: We doctors are no help. Why does a provider perform or recommend annual or every 6 month Pap smears in women without risks for cancer?
2 reasons:
Ignorance or scarcity of time.
Ignorance will take time to change. Scarcity of time might never improve.
It takes me 20 seconds or less to do a Pap. It takes (at least) 4-5 minutes to explain why a patient doesn’t need one.
Many times, the less is more tone of the guidelines make patients uncomfortable. Cancer is scary and it’s more comforting to do something than it is to do nothing. Some patients think insurance, politicians, and doctors are just trying to streamline spending by omitting important tests. To top it off, some insurance companies have protocols based in the stone ages and will pay me more if I do a Pap smear, even if the patient should not have one.
The ramifications of these 8 little facts are huge– emotionally, culturally, socially, and financially.
Now that you know the whys and whens of modern Pap rationale, you can affect this change in perspective by doing two simple things:
First, change your wording when talking about seeing your Ob/Gyn: instead of saying “it’s time to get my Pap smear” say, “it’s time to get my annual exam/wellness check/ob/gyn visit”. ANYTHING is better than implying the “Pap” always happens yearly.
Second, and most importantly, share what you just learned with your people: tell your best friend, forward this to your mom, share this on your favorite social media. Just get the word out. Click one of those share buttons on the left or go here to connect.
Every person informed is one less person stressed about that dreaded exam.
One less person living with old-fashioned, unsubstantiated fears.
So, take another quick scan of the bold facts, acknowledge that sometimes less is more, and then tell someone about it.
Because it’s time to put worries behind us and move on with living.
I am an Ob/Gyn and I love helping people really, truly understand their bodies and live healthy lives. I believe true wellness comes from more than just a pill. When not working I love to mountain bike, cook, learn to sew, and go on adventures with my husband and our daughter.
Thank you so much for explaining all the issues surrounding HPV, cancer, and pap smears! Some of the info I had heard before but didn’t really understand the reasoning behind it. It all makes sense now, thanks!
Jeni- I’m so happy that it makes sense. Thanks for your feedback!
Can you address how receiving chemotherapy for various cancers may impact pap smear results and if there are different ways of approaching treatment with regard to HPV?
Stacey, that’s a great question! Basically, chemotherapy impacts how well our immune system functions. HPV is usually detected and suppressed by our immune system. But, when it’s not working as robustly, HPV is able to flourish. Consequently, Pap smears during times people are receiving chemotherapy can be abnormal and/or HPV’s presence can be positive. So, during chemo, the approach to Pap smears has to be individualized.
I feel like this article covered lots of information, but, did not specifically cover certain information. For example, what are the specific differences between a pap-smear and a pelvic exam? A pap-smear is just testing for cervical cancer where-as pelvic exams test for any other cancers in vagina, uterus, and Fallopian tubes? And what exactly are the harms of annual pap-smears, other than unneccessary testing and worrying? Are there any actual health issues that can come from getting pap-smears too frequently?
Andrea, thanks so much for reading! Your questions are really good ones!! They focus on aspects of this topic that I am actually planning to do a separate article on. It may not be finished for a while, so let me answer you briefly here.
1. Regarding the difference between Pap smears and pelvic exams- a Pap smear most commonly investigates the cells on the cervix for cervical cancer and pre-cancer. At the time of a Pap, we can also screen for infections like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. If a person has had cervical, uterine or ovarian cancer and has undergone a hysterectomy, a Pap smear of the back of the vagina tests for recurrent cancer. In contrast, a pelvic exam usually involves visual inspection of the external genitalia as well as a bimanual exam. A bimanual exam is where the provider examines vaginally with a finger or two and feels on the skin of the low pelvis to assess for any tenderness, the size/shape/position of the uterus/cervix/ovaries and for any other abnormalities. You made a great point– a pelvic exam can occasionally detect a mass that leads to a diagnosis of a cancer. However, as of right now, we don’t have any blood tests, exams or ultrasounds that are helpful in screening women for cancer of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. I will elaborate on this more in a future article– there’s a lot to discuss in order to be thorough.
2. As for the harms of Paps done too frequently, you said it well. The harms are simply that the extra screening has the potential to give results that can lead to additional exams, tests, biopsies and potentially surgeries that are unnecessary. They are unnecessary because the results gleaned from the extra testing resolve spontaneously, without these interventions, if we just had the patience to allow this to occur. In the meantime, women are worried about a cancer, that if we had not done the extra test they wouldn’t worry about and that if we had a magic crystal ball and could see the future, we’d know was never going to manifest. Beyond the extra worry, extra tests, extra procedures, there are no other harms. It’s too bad that extra testing doesn’t come with finding extra cancer because it’d be so much easier to just encourage extra testing. Doing annual Paps is simple, it would give us more of a sense of being able to monitor and control for cancer and it wouldn’t require providers to change what has become such a deeply valued tradition. Trust me, I have my own fears about getting cancer and when there is a great test to detect a cancer before it’s advanced, I want it for myself and encourage all women to pursue it. Paps in general revolutionized how we detect and prevent cervical cancer, but done too frequently, their helpfulness is outweighed by their cons.
I hope this makes sense and helps!
Thank you. I too have heard some of these but you explained and clarified them. Will definitely share info with others.
Sue, thank you for the input! I’m glad it was clarifying. More info and updates will be coming in the near future. You’re welcome to join the emailing list to stay in the loop if that’s convenient.
Great article btw! I feel like I’ve been had. I’ve had abnormal paps off and on for the last 15 years. I’m now 34 yrs old. I’ve had several colpos, biopsies, and even a leep. The LEEP was about 1.5 yrs ago. What lead to it was post-coidal bleeding and a pap that came back with CIN 1 (sp?) my dr was on the fence on wheather I should have it or not. I said let’s do it bc of the fear. Paps have been normal since. I know that CIN 1 is not as concerning as 2 or 3, but should I space my paps out now or do I fall into the few that should continue the annual paps? I still have the bleeding from time to time. Thank you so much for breaking this down so much better than any way I’ve heard it before. I’m actually an L&D nurse at a teaching facility and I’ve never heard it explained so well. I look forward to more articles.
Sonya– Thanks for the feedback. Your experience is so similar to many of the stories I hear from my patients. I’ll do my best to address your concern.
First, a little background: CIN 1, 2, & 3 are phrases we’ve used for a long time to describe mild (1), moderate (2) and severe (3) dysplasia (abnormal cellular changes). CIN 1 regresses most of the time and persists or progresses to a more severe level only occasionally. Because of that, CIN 1 is often just observed to see if it will spontaneously disappear. CIN 3 regresses less often and can persist or progress to frank cancer, so it’s standard to surgically excise it. CIN 2 can be confusing in terms of diagnosis and ideal management. Because of the limited usefulness of CIN 2, two organizations, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) and the College of American Pathologists have both stopped using the 3-tier classification and now just categorize abnormalities as “High grade” or “Low grade” intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL or LGSIL). Still, CIN 1, 2, and 3 are widely used.
As for your particular circumstances, clearly, like in all things, management has to be individualized. Because CIN 1 can be observed without LEEP, since you had a LEEP, as long as it didn’t demonstrate CIN 2 or 3, it would seem reasonable to return to routine screening after you have one normal Pap smear with HPV being negative (Pap with co-testing for high-rish HPV every 5 years). The interval for screening depends on the duration your CIN 1 was present and your personal risk factors. This may be of help: http://www.asccp.org/Portals/9/docs/Algorithms%207.30.13.pdf
Let me know if you have more questions.
I stopped having pap smears years ago and I dont think anything could talk me into enduring that torture again.
If a pap smear is torture….
either
1. Someone is doing it very wrong,
2. Something is actually wrong… or…
3. If I may be crude(just couldn’t resist the pun)… your pussy is being a pussy.
Kelli– I hear you! As long as you fall into the category of folks who should stop Paps, congrats! As Stacey, with her wry and lovely sense of humor, mentioned, and as you probably already know, Paps should not hurt. They are annoying like getting your blood drawn is annoying, but except in rare cases (for example, when there is an infection, vaginismus, stenosis, or some anatomical peculiarity), it should be nothing other than some vaginal pressure and a mild cramping at most. As I tell my patients, Pap smears should be boring and uneventful.
What if you have a doctor who says he cannot see your cervix (since you have a few kids things don’t hold up so well), how accurate will any assessment be..at all?! I have been totally put off screening and it bothers me as I want to be sure everything is ok.. but between this and the other GP who jacked the speculum so high I ached for days and every time get light bleeding after, feel like a piece of meat really! I guess it’s hard to answer, like how long is a piece of string?! Since I one time had abnormal cells after the birth of my second child five years ago I wanted to follow up, but had a third since..very busy etc and put off!
Went through it once when I was in a hospital setting complaining when I had the flu, and the staff gave me this and the unnecessary pelvic exam, and I NEVER did it again. It was torture,and they knocked me out with demerol so they could proceed. It was like being raped.
NEVER, EVER again. That was 31 years ago, and I am 62 now.
Very informative ,,,,,,My concern is with a AS-CUS result and neg HPV.
Does one have to worry and do follow ups every 6 months?
Jeann– ASCUS indicated mildly atypical cells, but in reality, it’s not concerning unless the high-rish HPV is positive. The cells can be atypical for many reasons, totally unrelated to pre-cancerous changes. The current recommendations are to repeat your Pap smear in 12 months. Does this help?
YES!
That info helps ! It seems to come back ASCUS every 5-7years.
Testing for HPV 16/18 have come back negative.
Thanks again.
I know this post is kind of old but I have some questions..In 2007, I was diagnosed with ASCUS pap and High Risk Hpv while I was pregnant. I had a colposcopy with biopsy and everything was clear. I had Pap tests everything 3 months til the end of my pregnancy and they were all ASCUS. At my 6 weeks after C section checkup, my pap was normal and I have had Pap smears every year or two since then for a total of 5 normal since the abnormal paps. My Dr attributed my abnormal Paps to pregnancy. Is a yearly pap necessary for me at this point? I spend far too much time worrying that at some point I am going to get the dreaded news that I have cancer..am I worrying needlessly? Thank you for the informative article!
I totally agree with your doctor- the ASCUS paps were most likely because your immune system in pregnancy is somewhat suppressed. When it’s suppressed, HPV (that 90% of sexually active people can have) is free to flourish and cause mildly abnormal changes on your cervix. Then, after pregnancy, your immune system gets more robust again and the HPV remains suppressed and the paps are normal. You should not need yearly paps! I think you are indeed worrying without any good reason to worry. Now- that said, I understand why you would worry! The things is this— cervical cancer takes years to develop. The vast majority of the times we diagnose it there are often two major things that have occurred: 1-The person has had repetitively abnormal paps, biopsies, surgeries for high level dysplasia for years and then eventually, on one of the biopsies, we see a cancer. 2- the person has not had a pap smear in decades. For the most part, if you stick to standard screening, you won’t get cervical cancer (let me repeat: you won’t get cervical cancer) because you will catch it 10-20 years before it develops. Try not to worry. Depending on your age, you likely need paps every 3-5 years. This of course only applies if you don’t have any of those high risk factors for cancer (HIV, organ transplant, DES exposure, etc). If you are over 30, they will check for the high risk strains of HPV. If the pap and the HPV test are negative, you shouldn’t repeat it for 5 years. Good luck and hang in there! I know it can feel really stressful. KA
Sorry for commenting on an older thread but I just found this via a search engine, what I can’t help but wonder is if the repeated scraping can cause cells to be abnormal or turn cancerous, like the way that the the scraping of the uterus in an abortion, is said to increase the chances of cancer there.
Hi-great point. I can understand the thought process of repetitive scraping causing damage, but really, it’s not any more damaging than, say, drying your hands on a towel. Even though I agree with the current more hands off guidelines, I can tell you that the swabs taken with a Pap aren’t traumatic to the tissue. I’m sure if they were done daily, there would be some issues, but that will never become a reality. Hope this helps!
I disagree. Washing your hands with paper towels does not produce bleeding or spotting blood of any kind but Pap smear testing does. Pap smear tests have changed from swabbing to now using a brush that is meant to scratch the uterus thus creating a wound that was never there before the test. Wounding the cervics repeatedly may cause the healing of that wound to go wrong. Studies have shown that cancer may in some cases be due to a healing mechanism gone wrong. The cervics was never meant to be wounded or scratched up. It is very hidden and deep and safe. That is until man decided to interfer with its safety and use mechanical means to tear bits and pieces from it all in the name of cancer prevention. Yet this test has done more harm than good to millions of women. It prevents nothing but rather leads them toward more testing more biopsies more damage more stress until finally lt. leads you down the road of cancer and you are now a victim of their preventative testing and will forever remain a patient. Be it now surgery radiation or chemotherapy they now have you where they want all women. And that is a revolving door syndrome of unending tests and drugs etc. and cancer treatments. I have stage 3b uterine cancer that spread to my cervics and vagina. 6 months prior to my biopsy I hade pelvic and trans vagina ultrasound. Neither the doctor doing the exam or the ultrasound found anything. All was well so I thought. A biopsy was done through the use is a hystopcopy. At that time during surgery they did a Pap smear and it came back negative for cancer even though the biopsy and photos showed the cancer there. I spent a life time spreading my legs to strange men doctors following their orders and recommendations. The tests failed. The exams failed. But what they did expose me to year after year for some 35 years was scratching up my cervics and exposing me to tools like the speculum that was inserted in a thousand other women’s private areas that now exposed me to an endless array of virus bacteria cancer std etc with their so called sterile instruments
Yes I thought that too! Re damage from scraping as well as spreading abnormal cells when they are trying to heal or possibly introducing contaminants…
Hi! I came across this blog in hopes to find reassuring facts, and that I did. My timeline is: 2007- multiple abnormal paps led to Leep. Was successful and paps after have all been normal.
2010- 1st baby, still normal pap
2012- 2nd baby, still normal
March 2014- pap was ASCUS with a negative HPV.
Pregnant all of 2015, until August. Pain intercourse throughout pregnancy. No blood.
Postpartum- foul smelling discharge, grayish. Treated for BV. Then treated a second time. Seems to have gotten better, no painful sex. Also couldn’t have pap at 6 week postpartum check because of BV treatment gel.
My question is- since it has been since 3/2014 since my last pap, could these changes be from cervical
Cancer? I’m not scheduled for my annual until January. I’m so scared that since its been so long, a lot could have changed. And possibly the painful intercourse during pregnancy could’ve been a clue. I know you said it’s SLOW growing, but I just need some piece of mind! My doc doesn’t seem concerned.
Great summary of your history! Don’t spend any worry on the idea of cervical cancer. Your repeat Pap will give you the peace of mind you need and waiting until January is totally appropriate! Your doc is probably unconcerned because we don’t see this kind of Pap smear history turn into anything bad. Good luck.
It’s great you put this info here, but I was one of those women who put my smear off. I literally had one at an STD clinic when going for emergency contraception and discovered there was CIN3 on my cervix. If I had not gone I do not know what the consequences would be. Six months later after LLETZ operation I had another smear and had high risk HPV. I was glad I was checked out because now I have the all clear. So its great you put all this info here, but it would also be great if you encouraged women at the end to still go as its more discouraging then encouraging this post.
for months i has be on tablets given to me at the hospital for hpv, They said I have to be taking it for life just to treat and reduced the warts and i stopped taken the tablet because no point for taking tablet when u won’t get cure from it and i do some research on line i was recommend to dr mazi for his natural cure to eliminate hpv in my body they said he is the most trustful herbalist for serious infection, few days after I emailed dr mazi for speedy help after three weeks taking his natural medicine i totally got cured. this is my biggest proud I’m not HPV positive anymore. i finally got cured out of this infection i has be living with for three years, I also recommend everyone suffering from human papillomavirus to get the cure and eliminate it forever. herbalist email; drmaziherbalcure@gmail.com
I stumbled across this page while looking for something to ease my mind. I hope you might be able to answer some questions.
In 2004 I gave birth to my first child, and they found abnormal cell growth in my cervix. I cannot remember what the technical jargon was but it was dysplasia and they performed a LEEP. All paps came back normal, had a second child, again all normal. Last pap smear was….*gasp* around 2009, I believe. Everything was fine, and we entered a very hectic time in life with special needs child/moving/etc. Six years later, here I am after my latest pelvic and pap with disconcerting results.
She (the nurse practitioner) told me I had a friable cervix and a polyp which appeared to bleed. I had had a mild case of extended spotting after my last period which prompted this exam. She did a pap and referred me to the actual gyno for eval and possible removal. I am SO TERRIFIED that this is cancer and I waited too long to be checked. Years ago, I bled a couple of times after sex with my husband but didn’t do anything about it, but now I am kicking myself for not getting screened. Do you think I’m one of the ones who might have gotten it because of lack of screening? I feel so foolish and scared. 🙁
I got pregnant with my first child at 15 and everything went good I had him a month before I turned 16. Then recently I had my daughter when I was 18 I turn 19 tomorrow my doctor did a pelvic exam yesterday and said I didn’t need a pap smear. And I have been sexualy active for 7 years. Should I get a pap smear? I hope someone will answer me. I am a terrible hypochondriac 🙁
I have always had abnormal paps(ASCUS) (since 2009). In 2014 I was bleeding for 3 months before I finally sought answers, as I was uninsured. My pap was once again abnormal(ASCUS). I had a few pelvic exams and It was assumed that I had endometrial polyps. I never followed up because it was getting SO expensive. I went on BC pills and the bleeding subsided. I now have an IUD, and do not have a period. I have occasional spotting.
A few weeks ago I had a pap and tested positive for high-risk HPV and the pap was abnormal (ASCUS)(sp?)
I am 29. I am scheduled for a colposcopy, and I feel like I have nothing at all to worry about and the procedure is $375, which I cannot really afford right now, being a full time college student. I dont really want to go through with the procedure, but my Dr deems it necessary. I would love to hear your thoughts, or anyone else who might have some advice.
Hi, I’m showing abnormal high risk hpv 16 for the first time. Did paps back to back after six months. Dr. Wants me to go for the coloscopy, should I even bother going for that? I’m 38 years old.
I am stressed, I am 11 weeks pregnant had my PAP smear. When doing the procedure, my doctor said there’s a blood coming from my cervix. Should I be alarmed? And what does it mean? Please answer me. Thank you very much.
This is clearly written of the new generation. So, how does having more ‘unnecessary testing’ harm a person??? Really, its that easy to just pretend that it’s OK for someone to get cancer. This is a money saving idiocy to do with the ACA, that in truth, is not that Affordable.
The title should be: How politics could get you killed….. Or, just how the millennials are making the US a third world country, with lack of vaccination (you know, polio, the fun disease, is just a conspiracy theory by the GOP) and normal healthcare screening.
hoping someone is still around to answer! if someone does not have sex at all do they need to continue getting pap smears as they are extremely painful? thank you for your help!
Hi, I’m 34 and have not had a Pap smear in 4 1/2 years, I recently did one and having anxieties, to the point where my blood pressure is super high. My last one was when I had my son, I have had previous Pap smears and they were negative… I think, well the dr always tells me everything is good. I am super paranoid right now and having to wait a week for results doesn’t help.
Thank you for your valuable input. My wife and I grew up in a small town with one doctor. He aways played it safe with young girls with nice bodies by requiring pap smears every 6 months to keep their birth control prescription. Once they picked up a few pounds, had kids or let themselves go his requirements for pap smears were relaxed. He passed a few yrs ago and I’m sure someone misses him.
Thankyou for a great article , just need to ask my pap was due in Jan which was put off as I started chemo for breast cancer in Feb & was advised to wait till chemo was finished as it would affect result of pap smear and cause worry. So I had my last infusion a week ago so when would be the right time to have a pap smear. How long do I need to wait My chemo is TCH.
Thanks for you help
I’m 36 and haven’t had a pap smear in 16 years. The older I get, the more disgusted I get with the medical establishment. My ob gyn completely blew me off when I complained about my periods being extremely painful, irregular and heavy. I asked could it possibly be endometriosis. She blew that off too (I would think someone asking about that would indicate they had extreme pain). I was 18 years old and she had the nerve to respond to me that I had to wait until menopause.Turns out it was from my thyroid and I suffered for YEARS. It cracks me up all these invasive tests for rare cancers but thyroid disease which is much more common is blown off when a woman complains of these symptoms. If they even do anything it’s give you the pill.
I have just stumbled across this, and I’m shocked at some of the misinformation. I have been completely regular with my pap smears since 18, yes 18. They have always been normal, even the one I had just 3 months ago. Well today I was diagnosed with CIN2. So yes it can change fast, or pap smear can miss it. I’m living proof.
Pelvic exams are no longer suggested if women are asymptomatic. Pelvic exams are basically useless.
I’ve been diagnosed with AGUS .. not sure what are next steps .. hpv was negative and same yr pap early was normal .. I’ve had 2 medical abortions though the same year ..Please advice
It all makes sense, Thanks.
I’ve just done my papsmear last monday, during the procedure
I was bleeding but not heavily, my doctor said my cervix is sensitive and she mentioned about cervical cancer, I was so scared. I am just thinking that its just a language barrier or miscommunication, I am here in Thailand. Is it possible to have light bleeding during the papsmear procedure. I am 33 years old and my OB didnt explain it to me properly. Thank you in advance.