Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

I got an abnormal Pap....I am going for a second opinion b/c I really don't feel comfortable with my current OB/GYN. He wanted me to come in and schedule a coloscopy right away. After consulting my closest friends who have had these issues...they say that if you get an abnormal pap you usually go back for a second pap before anything is done. Plus, this doctor has really rubbed me wrong on other occasions.

In the meantime, I am so fearful about my abnormal pap....I'm 34 and TTC....what does this mean?

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

I wouldn't start to explore what an abnormal pap could mean until you get a second opinion. You could literally drive yourself crazy!

Definitely go to another doctor. I was going to one that rubbed me the wrong way and then at my last visit totally pi$$ed me off. Go with your instinct and get another opinion.

And for Pete's sake, don't google this on the internet!


Good Luck!

Message edited 12/20/2007 10:06:19 PM.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

I would get another pap done. My friend had the same thing happen to her and she went bak after driving herself crazy and HYSTERICAL only to find that her pap was fine. It was a tainted test or something- I forget how they described it.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

I had an abnormal pap and I went in and had a coloscopy done a week later, at my next visit. No second pap was done. A lot of times they do get false positives back, but then a lot of times they don't. After they did the coloscopy on me, she found that I had cancerous cells and had to then move on to the LEEP procedure. So no, not all gynos have you come back for a second pap. My doctor is extremely proactive in the way she treats her patients and it's actually something I really like about her.
I would say if you don't feel comfortable with your gyno, then yes, you probably should get a second opinion. Just know that it isn't necessarily abnormal to move straight on to the coloscopy.

Message edited 12/20/2007 10:25:10 PM.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

If you are uncomfortable with your doctor than by all means get a second opinion. I would do it as quickly as you can. Abnormal paps should be taken seriously.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

My dr. always assured me that abnormal paps do not affect fertility - and in my case she was right.... I've had everything - colposcopies, cryo, etc...

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

Coloscopy is not the worst thing in the world. And doctors usually do have you come back in 3 months, IF you choose to, to test again, because sometimes the cells correct themselves. I have a very rare strain of HPV that is extremely aggressive. I have had to have every procedure known to man for it, because mine won't go away. I have had everything but a LEEP because my doctor who specializes in problem pregnancies and HPV procedures said that every doctor under the sun rushes and does a LEEP, and there are so many women that wind up having to have another one, and you only have so much cervix to take off, and the women wind up going into pre-term labor or have to have a stitch put in the cervix. So I do everything but the LEEP. i take over 11 different vitamins a day and go to acupuncture. I LOVE my doctor so much that I fly to Seattle to see him. So I am all for trusting your doctor. If you don't trust yours seek a different opinion.

Oh and I am having another procedure done on the the 7th of January.

If you have any other questions FM me! I have been dealing with this a LONG time and know everything there is to know about HPV.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

I had one a few years ago. While I agree that you should get a second opinion, I will tell you that if it comes back abnormal again, the procedure is not that bad and you are probably fine. Sometimes if there is some irritation there, the pap will pick it up as potential cancerous cells. I remember the time I had it, we BD the night before and I am convinced that did it!

Good luck and if you are not comfortable, get a second opinion!

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

I had one also and I did not get a second opinion instead I just got whatver its called when they scrape the walls and get the cancerous cells out.

Looking back I should have gotten a second opinion bc I am/was very unhappy with my gyno and I ended up switching. (south bay obgyn)


ETA - i think you should get a second opinion

Message edited 12/21/2007 8:28:57 AM.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

You should do whatever is going to make you feel comfortable but after getting one abnormal pap back you should make sure the next doctor uses Thin Prep which is the most sensitive kind of pap test they can do. Going right to a colpo is not uncommon.

Don't freak out. I was told that you can get an abnormal pap just from possibly having s*e*x* too soon beforehand. Don't worry. As you can see, many girls have been down this road and it is a 95% guarantee it will not affect your fertility. Just get it taken care of

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

I have had several abnormal paps. I even had to have a colposcopy once and everything came back fine.

Don't worry about it and if you are really not comfortable with your dr then get another opinion and switch doctors.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

If you are uncomfortable with your GYN def get another opinion.

I had an abnormal pap, colposcopy, adn then the freezing procedure to remove the abnormal cells (back in 2001, I think). Then the following year I had another abnormal pap, was not happy about that, so I got a second opinion. He did not even repeat the pap b/c it was obvious it was abnormal. He did a colposcopy then a LEEP. I have had all normal paps since and my current GYN said such a small portion was removed that TTC should not be a problem. He's not at all concerned.

Bottom line is that it's not uncommon to have an abnormal pap and try not to drive yourself crazy. But, don't go forward with any procedures until you see another GYN. You have to be comfortable with your doc.

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

Re: Abnormal Pap...should I be freaking out?

Wait till you have a secondopinion, my sis had an abnormal pap and is fine, they did a second test but she is fine