Anon - It sounds like your doctor found indicators of cervical dysplasia from your Pap test. Cervical dysplasia means there are abnormal changes in the epithelial cells covering the surface of the cervix. Dysplasia in some cases is precancerous and may lead to cervical cancer if not treated. You can learn more about cervical dysplasia from our reference page: https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/cervical-dysplasia#definition
Your doctor should have provided information about what type of follow up he/she felt was needed. If not, please contact your doctor's office for clarification of the test results and follow up recommendations. In some cases doctors just indicate that the results indicate a need to watch the condition and then retest at a later date. You need to be clear on your results and the necessary follow up.
As far as HPV it would be in your best interest to learn more about it and to consider having an HPV test. This article has information on the differences between the Pap smear and the HPV test: https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/05/09/what-difference-between-pap-smear-and-hpv-test
There are about 100 types of HPV. Approximately 30 of those are spread through genital contact (typically sexual intercourse). There are approximately 13 high-risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Vaccination does not protect against HPV contracted prior to vaccination, nor does it protect against all types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. For the sake of your health it would be best to use protection against STDs at all times.
There are multiple articles on this site about HPV, HPV testing and cervical cancer. I hope you will take the time to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself, and that you will contact your doctor's office as soon as possible so you can gain good information and some peace of mind.
Comment Reply
Anon - It sounds like your doctor found indicators of cervical dysplasia from your Pap test. Cervical dysplasia means there are abnormal changes in the epithelial cells covering the surface of the cervix. Dysplasia in some cases is precancerous and may lead to cervical cancer if not treated. You can learn more about cervical dysplasia from our reference page: https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/cervical-dysplasia#definition
Your doctor should have provided information about what type of follow up he/she felt was needed. If not, please contact your doctor's office for clarification of the test results and follow up recommendations. In some cases doctors just indicate that the results indicate a need to watch the condition and then retest at a later date. You need to be clear on your results and the necessary follow up.
As far as HPV it would be in your best interest to learn more about it and to consider having an HPV test. This article has information on the differences between the Pap smear and the HPV test: https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/05/09/what-difference-between-pap-smear-and-hpv-test
There are about 100 types of HPV. Approximately 30 of those are spread through genital contact (typically sexual intercourse). There are approximately 13 high-risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Vaccination does not protect against HPV contracted prior to vaccination, nor does it protect against all types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. For the sake of your health it would be best to use protection against STDs at all times.
There are multiple articles on this site about HPV, HPV testing and cervical cancer. I hope you will take the time to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself, and that you will contact your doctor's office as soon as possible so you can gain good information and some peace of mind.
Take care, Pat
April 29, 2010 - 7:06pmThis Comment
Reply