Abnormal Pap Test/Smear

[mouthpiece120.livejournal.com]

I'm very anxious because I just got my pap smear results back today and my doctor told me I had some abnormal cells. 6 months ago in June, I had a normal result, and a year ago in December, I had a colposcopy done because they found low grade cervical dysplasia.

Jan 2007 - abnormal cells
June 2006 - normal
December 2006 - lsil

I'm feeling weird because I felt I was "in the clear" when I got my normal test result. However, I was sexually active in the 24 hours before my pap test. Is it possible this could be a cause of the abnormal cells? Or does sex only hide abnormal cells? Or maybe the lesions are returning?

I have looked through many reliable websites looking for information about this. Has anyone been through an experience like this?

I am not sure what I am worried about, as if I keep getting screened I can catch any signs of cancer in time, but I feel so lost because I don't have anyone to talk to. My doctor had little to say except that I should come back in 6 months.

What are my chances of just reverting to normal and staying normal? I really don't want to keep worrying about this, and I don't feel like I can wait 6 months to see.

EDIT: If I had HPV, and my body cleared the infection by 6 months ago, what are the chances the virus is back again and causing abnormal cells? Does your body not clear it all the way even when you have normal results? Or is it re-infection?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/]

(i assume when you say a year ago in december, you mean december 05, not 06)

from what i've been told by my gyno (i had cryotherapy for squamous cells about 5.5 years ago), sexual activity, specifically semen in/around your cervix CAN cause a slightly abnormal result. i'd explain to your gyno that you had sex before your pap and ask for another one. if she refuses, get a second opinion. no reason to have them charge you for/put you through another colposcopy, etc if the test results were faulty. and it wouldn't take more than another week to get new results back.

[leahpia77.livejournal.com]

Dude. I had the same thing, and had a cone as well at about the same time. That's freaky. I had never even heard of squameous hyperplasia before then.

[jenafreaka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you are not supposed to have sex before the pap, it can mess with the results. Just because it's abnormal doesn't mean that something is seriously wrong. Chances are you have an infection or something of the sort, or it is just the fact you had sex. Your doctor should fill you in on what exactly it is, they wouldn't just leave you out in the dark about the results. So I really wouldn't worry.

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

I've had similar (but different) strange results and my gyno left it at, "lets just keep seeing you every 6 months and if things get WORSE we'll worry and if things get better or stay the same we won't sweat it."

[cork118.livejournal.com]

I sympathize. I've been getting yearly paps since I was fifteen, and they were all fine and dandy. Then when I was nineteen and it was literally a week (to the day!) after I had sex for the first time, I got a pap that came back abnormal. That's what I call irony, lol. I had sex less than 24 hours before that exam because I didn't know it could effect the results. My doc made me go back in six months too, and damn was it the most nerve wracking six months of my life! I was always stressed about it. Because of the stress, my periods were all fugged up, which of course only stressed me out MORE because I thought it was sign of something worse. My six-month retest came back fine, but I'll never forget that.

It's entirely possible that the sexual activity caused the abnormal results. Or it could be a number of another things-- mild yeast infection, stress, diet, lots of stuff. I'd recommend the same thing another person did up above, to explain the situation to your doc and get a retest. In the meantime, try to stay as calm as possible. Pap tests come back abnormal all the time, and it usually doesn't indicate anything too serious. Let us know how it goes.