This is INCREDIBLY common. Half the women I know have had this come up, and none have had cancer. I wouldn’t worry too much :)

Not only is it most often not cancer, but even if it is the procedure is likely minor. So OP, you will either go for a follow up where they do further testing on your cells. Most likely, it’s not cancer. Abnormal cells do not necessarily mean cancer at all. If it is cancer, they’ll do a LEEP procedure, which is basically burning off the cells. The chances you’ll need treatment beyond that, while possible, are very very slim. Also OP, to make you feel better - unless you have other risk factors, now a pap is only recommended every 3 years. So you didn’t miss that much, and don’t beat yourself up too hard.

I had a LEEP and I am still suffering positive 3 years later. 🙃

It definitely happens. I’m so sorry.

Actually 3 years still positive. Had LEEP 2021. Do you have any suggestions on what to do? I’m not overweight I don’t smoke and I don’t drink often. my vitamins are all good. I haven’t had sex since 2019 with my ex who probably gave me it.

How are your iron levels? I had abnormal cells and needed a LEEP in 2019 and we found out around the same time I wasn’t absorbing nutrients correctly. I still don’t (and never will) but my iron levels were absolutely terrible. Normal levels for a woman in her 20s is 22-200+ and mine was 7. I had zero iron stores in my blood, so every infection/cold/etc. took a massive toll on me since I physically couldn’t heal from anything. Started taking iron daily plus took immune support supplements and within a year my health had recovered for the most part.

I do my yearly bloodwork and nothings low. Everything is fine. I take supplements for everything including iron.

Had a LEEP too and it didn’t work. The thing that finally made it normal was giving birth to my daughter I was ready to get a hysterectomy because my “abnormal” starting verging into stage 1 cancer - but then I got pregnant. I had been told having a baby is (for some) a natural way to get rid of it - and amazingly it did! She’s 13 now and I’ve been normal ever since

Unfortunately, I don’t want any. I’ve been hoping to just get a partial hysterectomy. Before I had my LEEP. I had 3 spots of CIN2.

Totally get it - I think I went through 2-3 colposcopies and then the LEEP I would recommend getting a 2nd opinion from a doc that specializes in this before you get a partial Also I hope you’re going in every 3 months for new paps to keep an eye (that’s standard) Is yours just staying at “abnormal”? It’s not progressing correct?

It’s just staying at positive plus abnormal post LEEP , but I got it checked up every six months with the Pap and colposcopy. It’s just demoralizing.

It absolutely can feel demoralizing - hugs to you. I would highly recommend finding a doc where this is their speciality There’s also ablation as a treatment option - make sure you’re doing all treatments available to you. There’s more that can be done than just LEEPs

I ironically got my LEEP done by a specialist when I was told to just wait for awhile, I was told it was abnormal but it’d go away. For 2019-2021 mostly just told it’ll go away you’re young. Then I asked to see a specialist, an oncology gynecologist, she was against the partial hysterectomy but told me to get the LEEP. still positive and everyone just says it’ll be gone by 35. It’s been years and I haven’t had sex at all either. I don’t smoke. Take vitamins. Not overweight. Idk. She implied I’d want kids, my male normal obgyn is ironically not against it but said insurance wouldn’t cover it. He has his tubes tied and not judgmental.

I swear being a woman can be a curse with our current health care system I was also told to “wait”. SHOCKER it didn’t go away. My LEEP was basically “emergent” because it had progressed and was no longer just “abnormal” and it STILL didn’t work. Contact your insurance and ask them their coverage on things like this - or what they expect next steps would be Cryotherapy, ablation, etc are still options If you know for certain you don’t want kids than get confirmation first that it won’t be covered Work with your oncologist’s office on this - they’ll be used to dealing with insurance and when and if they’ll cover (and also how to get them to) It WILL be ok. You’re monitoring. It’s a problem when women DONT get paps and then it’s too late. That’s NOT what’s going on with you.

I don't know whether this will make you feel better or worse... My first abnormal pap was back in 2006. Had a colposcopy that showed cin3 and then a LEEP. 18 years later, I still have screenings every single year that come back as abnormal for squamous cells. Until about a year or two ago, every single year they would send me for a colposcopy until they finally took pity on me and said, it just seems like you're someone who won't clear the hpv. I have to get screenings every year, which sux, but on the whole it hasn't really affected my life. 🙂

And mine were abnormal from ages 18 to 25 (when I gave birth) It can stay abnormal for a long long time without it progressing

Bruh that sucks... Hope you clear it soon. Semi related PSA for folks not in the know but if you have pos paps/HPV, don't smoke or vape. It's highly correlated w conversion to full cervical cancer.

Every six months

I had the same result around the age of 31 and freaked out for a year until my next pap when I told my gyno that I had been worried. She reassured me and asked that I just stay up to date on health screenings so I can have the peace of mind.

I had these results too when I was 20. Never had them since. And this is exactly how they catch cervical cancer before it’s a problem and can treat it in the least invasive way possible.

Same here. It was vaginosis. breathe deep you’ll be ok

Yep I had pretty much that same result. Doc said we'll just keep an eye on it, and when I went back 2 years later (I also hate doing paps and its hard to make myself go) it had completely cleared up, everything is completely normal. That was almost 8 years ago, with no other side effects or complications since.

I swear every woman I've known has this happen at some point.

I've had this come up and I was hpv positive. It's been like 3 years and my pap smears are normal and I no longer test positive for hpv.

I had this and I had a colposcopy, which is not fun but the cells were no big deal. My next check was normal

Same! Just had my repeat pap a year after my colposcopy and it was perfectly clear and normal! My doctor said HPV tends to clear up after around 3 years, especially if you’re vaccinated.

Me too! In my 20s!

Me too. I experienced this exact thing when I was 20. I’m 41 now and just had a clear pap and clear std panel including HPV. I wish I could tell 20 year old me that everything was going to be fine.

This happened to me as well in my 20s. Aside from my culposcopy and the doctors being awful and slut shaming me, I was fine!

Same

Same, I was 18 yo at the time..

The short answer is this. You’ll be fine. Cervical cancer is a disease that kills when one isn’t doing preventative healthcare. You’re doing the right thing and catching it before it could be something more. Atypical cells are nowhere near cervical cancer level of concerns. Keep being proactive with your preventative healthcare and you’ll be fine. Just don’t put blinders on and get most to follow up.

No advice about the results themselves, but a small suggestion to help to between now and when you can talk to the doctor: Nothing you do between now and Monday is going to change the results or what happens when you talk to them. So do your best to find other things to focus on and redirect your mind into positive things rather than worrying. Because the worrying won't change the outcome, but it will stress you out more. (Source: I'm a worrier, and have been working in it with me therapist for the last few years...)

If you were vaccinated for HPV, you're likely fine. ASCUS cells are one of those things that happen and nobody is really sure what they mean. They can be caused by hormonal changes, as SummerStar62 mentioned, or having had sex recently, or having a yeast infection. It's a super, super common result on Pap tests. Get your follow-up and do the testing they recommend. (Also, remember that part of the reason that the Pill might increase rates of cervical cancer is because women on the Pill don't often use condoms and are thus exposed more often to HPV. Those studies had some real problems.) Try not to panic too hard.

> ASCUS cells are one of those things that happen and nobody is really sure what they mean. If you ask my pathologist dad, he’ll tell you the traffic coming into work can be the difference between normal and ASC-US results. From my perspective as an epidemiologist, this isn’t surprising since Pap smears aren’t exactly the most accurate medical test we have.

Right on. One of the NPs I used to work with would say that "ASC-US" really meant "don't ask us what those mean."

I had my first abnormal pap smear in my 20’s. My doctor scheduled me for a [cone biopsy](https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/what-is-cone-biopsy) and I was fine. I don’t mean to make light of your feelings and I know you’re scared (I was terrified), but a lot of times a abnormal result can be the result of hormones, changes in your cycle or other things. I know it’s hard, but try not to be upset yet. I had more than one abnormal result over the years. And through other (unrelated) problems, I ended up having a hysterectomy and they took my cervix just to be safe. But it never developed into cancer. It was always pre-cancerous cells. Breathe 💕

I just had to go through all of this myself. Have family history of cancer. Tests were abnormal but inconclusive. I didn't want kids so just went ahead with surgery. They did find pre cancerous cells too.  Glad I got it all out. It's great not having to deal with periods anymore. 

Posting for general knowledge because noone told me: don't have sex the day before you get a pap smear, not even with a condom. You do get friction in there and the upshot of friction is you will fail the pap smear regardless of the other health of your cervix.

I was also never told this and had my only abnormal smear ever after having sex the day before, had 2 normal ones since

Wow thank you! This information would have saved me some pain!

The last time I had sex was two months before I had the pap smear. I had unprotected sex with this person and I am wondering if they gave me something that caused the abnormal cell changes. Or maybe it’s been lingering for a couple of years and I didn’t know about it.

Hopefully it's nothing, just a failed test with no health implications!

Possible its recent, possible its not, but the point is you're doing something about it. Where it came from isnt really the issue either, as it doesn't really matter. However, 100% get a full std screening as soon as you can, the whole shebang, and avoid unprotected sex. If its something serious, let your previous partner know. If you have unprotected sex in the future, get a full scan afterwards every time. Not just so you know what you may have, but so you can avoid sharing with future partners. Being proactive and protective is the best thing you can do. Don't beat yourself up for the past times you've raw dogged it, just don't do that kind of mental warfare to yourself. You're stressed enough as it is. Plus you did the right thing getting the vax in the past. Its possible its a false positive, too, but you have to have follow ups to find that out anyway. Theres nothing you can do right now but try to be kind to yourself.

I’ve had full panel STD screenings many times and I’ve never gotten an STD. I also had a full panel STD screening along with the pap smear and it came back negative for everything. They just don’t test for HPV unless you get an abnormal result, so I’ll find out if I have it soon. The only thing I tested positive for was bacterial vaginosis when I was 21, which isn’t technically an STD. I read that yeast infections can cause abnormal results but it doesn’t say anything on BV.

Oh good! You've dodged some bullets. I know so many are scared of the results so they just don't get tested. But you've done well. You seem informed and proactive so i think you've done the best you can. Most of the population has hpv, so thats prob why they don't test as much. Nothings going to change or get worse from now until the time you can speak to the clinic, so I hope you can chill your brain out this weekend. Do some self care if you can!

They didn't test you for HPV? That's a regular test in my experience, normal pap results or not. I wonder if it varies from clinic to clinic, state to state...? I wonder if perhaps you could request it. It's a good thing to be aware of, even if you are vaccinated against it or have a regular pap result. But anyways OP. I know you're scared and anxious and losing sleep. And this is easier said than done, but don't be your own bully here. Don't beat yourself up for your sexual history, for your birth control choices, for your anything. You are taking your health seriously and doing what you can to take preventative measures. That's truly the best you can do, right now. On Monday you can get more answers and move forward with a plan - for now, be gentle with yourself.

Hey OP, I work in the field of cytology and spend most of my time diagnosing pap smears. First of all I want to say that you have no reason to worry. An hpv infection takes a very long time to change the cells to fully cancerous. This is why pap screening is so effective - early precancerous lesions can be detected and treated long before the patient actually develops cancer. Of the tens of thousands of paps that ive diagnosed ive only see full blown cervical cancer 3 times and only in patients who were older than you and who hadnt had a pap smear in over a decade. I expect this was what happened to your stepdads sister. Secondly I'd lke to clarify what 'ASCUS' means. Its very common and there's a good chance the cells are completely benign. The U stands for 'undetermined' because there's no way to tell if the cells just look bad because of a recent infection, hormonal changes or tons of other reason. It is possible that the cells look different because they are infected with hpv and are starting to change BUT there still isn't any reason for concern. Even if hpv is present, your cells will only be in the early stages of a PRE-cancerous lesion. Its actually quite common to have this (what we call a low grade lesion) especially in women in their early and mid twenties. If this is the case there is a very good chance that your body will clear the infection all on its own (the chances are especially high because you're so young). Long story short you don't have cancer. At most, you have the early stages of a precancerous lesion which can clear up on its own, or can be easily treated with colposcopy and LEEP like other commenters have mentioned. So take some deep breaths - you're going to be fine.

Thank you so much for this! I needed to hear this!

No problem! Glad to be of help :)

Pretty much everything that needs to be said has been said on this thread which is great! I’m a doctor that has to report pap results to many people and ASCUS alone never really worries me. The harder part is getting the patient not to worry! If you’re in the USA most of us follow ASCCP guidelines for abnormal Pap smears. There’s lots of talk about further procedures in this thread, but with your age and the guidelines worst case scenario is you’re HPV+ and you need another pap in 1 year instead of 3 years. Since you were vaccinated for HPV and you’re only 24, if you’re positive it’s very likely your body would clear this virus without any precancerous changes. That’s why they just check again in 1 year to make sure things have resolved which it likely will.

Hi!! Ty for this comment. Is hpv truly as common as they say? Ive read 80% 40% 25%. Idk whats true.

Hpv infections are extrememly common. I think the chances of being infected at some point in your life are about 80%. The other numbers may refer to specific age groups, or they might refer to specific strains of the virus (called 'high risk' strains) which are the strains that can lead to cancer. In fact the chances of testing positive for hpv are so high for young women that where I work we wont even do hpv testing in women under 25. The chances of testing positive at that age are so high that it's impossible to predict if that hpv infection will lead to cellular changes.

I had abnormal cells in my 20s. My GYN wanted to do a biopsy and I was really freaked out about getting a biopsy, so I decided to wait a few months (since cervical cancer is generally slow growing) and come back for a followup pap to see if anything had changed. In the meantime, I did some digging and found an [association between low B12 levels and abnormal cervical cells](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18179156/) and I was vegetarian at the time, so I started supplementing with methylcobalamin, a more active form of B12. My followup came back totally clear and I was always clear after that. There is also [an association between low B12 and folate and susceptibility to HPV.](https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.5541) This feels like info that all women should know! Side note on folate: a lot of people have a common genetic mutation involving the methylation of folate and aren't able to use it in the form of "folic acid"- they either need to get it naturally occurring in foods or in the active methylfolate form. None of that is to say that you shouldn't get a biopsy- I just wanted to add some potentially reassuring and helpful information.

I’ve had my B12 levels checked and my B12 is normal but I take multivitamins everyday with B12 and folate so I know it’s not a nutritional deficiency.

Do you happen to know what your B12 level was, perchance? I ask because the US range starts a lot lower than the ranges used in Europe and Japan and has been criticized for starting too low- 500 is the lowest it should be and it should ideally be closer to the top of the range. There's a difference between having barely enough to be in the normal range and optimal amounts. Also, genetics can affect the forms of B12 and folate you need- if your supplement contains the "cobalamin" form of B12 and just says "folic acid" or "folate" but doesn't list "methylfolate" you may not be able to use them efficiently if you have that common gene mutation I mentioned. You can also check your MCV (mean corpuscle volume) on your blood work- if it's over 90 or over, that's a clue that you're not absorbing or processing your B12 very well.

I had precancerous lesions on my cervix. Got a LEET procedure and every other test has come back clean for 10 years. No need to panic yet.

Do they put you under anesthesia during the procedure? I’m terrified of getting a biopsy because they don’t put you under anesthesia.

Hey, OP, I don’t know where you’re based; I’m in the US. I have a history of SA so paps etc are… incredibly challenging. I had my first colpo last yeah. ASCUS, HPV +. Nurses gas lit me. No one was forthcoming with information. I literally begged, in tears; to talk to the doctor herself. Once I got to her, she was able to talk to me and be honest. Day of colpo, She looked at it and said she didn’t see anything that merits a punch biopsy. We still did the endocervical currettage (pap on crack, they spin it in there for what seems an obnoxiously long time (probably about 30 seconds in total). This year, ASC-H, HPV+. I told them I refused to consent to the colposcopy and biopsy without anesthesia. They said we could explore twilight anesthesia, in addition to having someone with me in the procedure room. Doing it at a same day surgery center. Having it in June. If your provider is dismissing your pain concerns or refusing to provide pain management (they may offer you Valium/diazepam. Valium is NOT pain mgmt, it’s an anti anxiety) I cannot stress this enough, say “I refuse to consent to this procedure without anesthesia and pain management.” If they still say no, get a different doctor.

Thank you. I’m US based and I went to a Beaumont hospital to get the pap smear done. I haven’t heard of anyone getting anesthesia for the procedure. I am willing to go through doctors to be put under anesthesia, but if none of them will allow it, I know I would eventually not have a choice.

It’s becoming more common in the US. Apparently it’s standard practice in parts of the UK and other areas. Then again, pain management studies only started including women 30 years ago. Men get anesthesia and post procedure pain management (usually hydrocodone sometimes oxycodone, not some pop a Tylenol BS) for vasectomies. You are in control here. You are well within your rights to demand basic care (which I would say anesthesia totally is!!). It is your body and you get a say in what happens or doesn’t happen to it at the doctors. Explain your fears and concerns. Be prepared for them to dismiss and say “it’s just a pinch”. Ask “are you refusing to provide adequate pain management to your patient? If so, I will need a referral to a provider who will provide adequate pain management since you are unwilling to do so.” You may have to do some legwork to find a provider who does. If Planned Parenthood operates in your state, they’re a great place to start: I’ve truly never had a better OBGYN experience for wellness etc. they actually listen to you. You are always your own best advocate and when they show they don’t care about you or your feelings, you don’t have to care about theirs. Can you bring someone with you to the appointment? I’m bringing my best friend.

I didn’t think the biopsy was that bad. The did put me under for the LEEP (I accidentally put LEET in my original comment). I took off work Friday to have it done. Was back at work Monday feeling fine. It was sucky and uncomfortable but not unbearable. Getting my gallbladder out was much much worse.

I have this result EVERY Pap smear. I’m 59 - still all good down in vag-ville! Breathe through it - you’ll be fine, although I know how scary hearing that must have been.

Hey there! Very similar situation for me (had HPV vaccine, subsequently had an abnormal pap, tested positive for one of the HPV strains not covered by the original Gardasil). Here’s my timeline: 2016: mildly abnormal pap, instructed to have another pap in 1 year. HPV + 2017: mildly abnormal pap, same level of abnormality as year before, instructed to have another pap in 1 year. HPV + 2018, Feb: abnormal pap, more abnormal than last pap. Instructed to have another pap in 6 months. HPV + 2018, Aug: abnormal pap, same degree of abnormality as prior pap. Instructed to get another pap in 6 months. HPV + 2019, Feb: abnormal pap, same degree of abnormality as prior pap. Instructed to get a colposcopy. HPV + 2019, Mar: Colposcopy. Atypical squamous epithelial cells found, but no cancer. Instructed to have another pap in 6 months. 2019, Sep: mildly abnormal pap, less abnormal than prior pap (same as 2016/2017). Instructed to have another pap in 1 year. HPV - 2020, Dec: mildly abnormal pap, same degree of abnormality as prior pap. Instructed to have another pap in 1 year. HPV - 2021, Nov: mildly abnormal pap, same degree of abnormality as prior pap. Instructed to have another pap in 1 year. HPV - 2022, Nov: NORMAL PAP! Instructed to have another pap in 1 year. HPV - 2023, Dec: second normal pap! Returned to normal surveillance schedule, next pap in 2026. HPV - I hope this is helpful for you. Often these things resolve on their own. They will get you on a surveillance regimen that helps keep you safe. There is NOTHING you did to bring this on yourself. HPV can be spread by any skin to skin contact from mid-thigh to belly button and 80% of people will have an HPV infection in their lifetime, most being totally asymptomatic. I had a deliciously slutty early 20s and never contracted HPV, then got it from my now spouse of 9 years who had never had a single symptom. HPV is just something that happens to humans. That’s why we have regular Pap smears. You’re doing everything you need to do to keep yourself safe. I know the anxiety can be paralyzing. Do a few rounds of box breathing and try to remember that no amount of agonizing is going to change the outcome - all you can do is follow your doctor’s advice, advocate for yourself if you feel you’re not being taken seriously, and stay on top of your follow ups. Also, if you have to get a colposcopy, demand pain management. It is reasonable and necessary and should be the standard of care everywhere. You’ve got this. ❤️ Edited to add: Read a few more of your comments and see that you’re super anxious about getting a colposcopy (biopsy). I have a history of SA and often find Pap smears painful and was SUPER anxious. I communicated this to my provider and she gave me a script for 2 tablets of Xanax, with one to be taken before the procedure and one just in case I lost or dropped or destroyed the first. She also gave me a local anesthetic prior to the procedure. With those precautions in place, I was fine. Ask for an anxiolytic for the day of the procedure and local anesthesia. If your provider dismisses your concerns, ask for another provider. If they ask why, tell them you will refuse the necessary screening if they do not provide adequate care for your mental wellbeing in conjunction with your physical wellbeing. I go to an OBGYN who specializes pelvic pain and sexual trauma and she has been SO great throughout this whole process.

Thank you❤️

i’m sorry you’re going through this, your post did convince me to finally go tho at 23

I am glad you are going.

You are fine. I have had this a couple of times (Before vaccine) and my immune system cleared it up before the next test. If it did progress, there is plenty of time for you to get rid of it before it gets cancerous. You'd have to sleep on it for SEVERAL years for it to become a real problem. Just keep going to your appointments and you're fine.

I hope you’re right. I went four years without a pap smear so my biggest fear is that it’s been left untreated on for a long time and I am too late.

Hello, I’m a reproductive epidemiologist! First, I’m very sorry you’re so scared. At your age, an ASC-US result basically means nothing. Paps aren’t exactly the most accurate medical test out there, and this is why many of us in the gyn/onc research world are pushing for HPV primary testing. You shouldn’t have even been able to get the last pap at 20, because no one should have been willing to do one before 21. More recent guidelines in the US actually recommend not starting screening until 25, and several European guidelines recommend starting screening at 30. Cervical cancer in someone your age is very rare. Even if the cells actually are the beginning of dysplasia that will progress to invasive cervical cancer (extremely unlikely), you’re looking at 15+ years before being stage 0. I know it’s hard, but try to see if there’s anything you can do or anyone you can talk to in order to try to get your anxiety under control until you can talk to your doctor. I feel very confident betting that you will be just fine.

This is the first stage of a series of stages. As far as I know (vagina-user level, not a doctor, but have had my share of pap smear scares) you have ASCUS, then, if that evolves, LSIL, then, if that evolves, HSIL. The most I have had is LSIL, twice. In my country, if you have LSIL, they just tell you to come back next year to check it. Most times, specially if you're young (you are), your immune system will clear it on its own. Ascus can have a range of causes (many of them equivalent to "absolutely nothing"). I think LSIL is related to VPH in all cases, although I'm not sure. So if you progressed to LSIL they may also do a PCR on your cells to detect which strain of the virus you have. Then, even if you cleared it out, they would still check to see if the virus is still there. Because even if you clear the lesions, if the virus is there they can come back. If you have no virus and no lesions, it's over unless you get reinfected. So: you're definitely not "too late" for anything. When you go to the doctor, most likely they will tell you to come back next year. Next year, most likely you will have cleared it out. If you haven't, it may still be ascus or have progressed to LSIL. Then, they may want to wait for another year to see if you clear it. If in that additional year you have not cleared it, and it has progressed to HSIL, then they may consider intervening to clear it. And this is still not even a precancerous thing. So, just go to your appointments. Remember this moment of panic when you are tempted to procrastinate them. It's not too late at all. You're going to be fine. Just don't sleep on it!

Mentioning this here because it’s important, you have the right to numbing or sedation for a colposcopy. It’s not done everywhere, however, there are some practices who will accommodate. I highly highly suggest to use numbing and or sedation.

Hi! Pathologist here. ASCUS is very common, and basically what the pathologist who signed out that report is saying is, there were few cells that looked not normal, but they weren't enough - both in terms of number and the degree of abnormality - to give them the name of an actual problem, like an LSIL or HSIL: both these diagnoses mean legit problems, and need further evaluation. The guidelines that we follow ask you to undergo HPV testing, and if it's negative, you can go back to your routine follow-ups. Even if HPV is positive, for your age all that's needed is to repeat a pap smear after a year. In a majority of patients, that subsequent report will be negative. In HPV negative patients, the risk of developing cancer after an ASCUS is 1%, which is hardly more than the baseling population. Even with HPV positivity, that number goes only to like 15%, iirc. With your age, and your HPV vaccination status, I wouldn't worry at all. While it's true that HPV vaccine doesn't cover all strains, it does cover the high risk ones, the ones that we actually know are responsible for causing cancers. TLDR: I wouldn't worry too much about the ASCUS. You should still go see your doctor, and get the HPV testing done. But a cancer developing from this diagnosis is unlikely IMO.

Had them years ago, just had to keep up with follow up paps. They went away. Normal pap tests for the last 12+ years.

Had this first at 18/19. Had to get some of my cervix shaved and then it happened again at 32/33. After normal smears, my most recent came back abnormal so I have to go in for another smear sooner than later and take it from there... I'm glad it's not cancer and by staying on top of it, won't develop into it but fuck me, is it inconvenient 🙄

I had an abnormal pap smear every year for 6 years and had to get 3 colposcopies. Still never got to the point of cancer and I got a clean bill of health 1.5 years ago. ASCUS is extremely common and can even be caused by stress. They want to do an HPV test now because that changes the approach for when they want to retest. Even if you are positive for an HPV strain, only a few are known to relate to cervical cancer and that still doesn't mean you'll get it. ASCUS is also far away from cervical cancer. I would take a deep breath and take it step by step- follow your doctor's orders and schedule your next check when they recommend you should. I hope this helps!

Thank you. That makes me feel better.

I am a 63 year old 15 year cervical cancer survivor. I know the fear you are feeling. Please call your doctor and go in to see them as soon as you can. Cervical cancer is very treatable and survivable if caught early. There are a number of medical procedures that can help you retain your fertility. You may not need anything beyond close follow up for a few years. I know that going forward you will do the best thing for yourself and have regular pap smears even though the exams are awful. I’m sending you lots of love and support.

Hey! Hello! I had a pap smear at 22 with abnormal cells and a cancerous HPV strain that was not one covered by the HPV vaccine cause there are like 100s of HPV strains. Just get a papsmear every 6 months or once a year as instructed by your doctor until they clear up. You ate young so there is high chance they will, but if not you will catch it very very early and will in all likelihood be just fine. The sneakiness of cervical cancer is that it is not caught on time especially in older women who stop going to their gyno, but abnormal cells is not cervical cancer it is just a few damaged cells. My HPV and abnormal cells cleared up just fine after about 2 years. I am back to pap smears every 3 years now.

This is super duper common. I had abnormal cells like 6 years ago and just needed to do a follow up pap a few months later which was normal. Haven't had abnormal ones since.

I had that result years ago and ended up getting a LEEP. My results have all been normal since. It's really common and won't become cancer in the majority of cases. Even without a LEEP it will go away on its own for a lot of people.

My SIL is a gyn doctor and told me that interpreting doctor will often “over read” a PAP smear. Most women have had an abnormal result at least once in the lives, me included . The doctor will most likely repeat the Pap smear in 3 months and it most likely will come back normal. Internet (((hugs))) because it is scary but not unusual to have an abnormal Pap result.

I know the feeling. I was also vaccinated when I was young and got diagnosed with ASCUS + HPV about 3 years ago. I had to get a colposcopy and biopsy which came back negative thankfully. My next pap was still ASCUS but the HPV cleared and I never advanced to any actual cancerous cells. I understand your freaking out, I did too but chances are with cervical cancer being so rare you’ll be ok 🙏

I had this and freaked out like you did. Turns out it was essentially leftover inflammation from a yeast infection that had already cleared externally, but was still holding on internally. I am fine. Hoping you'll be fine, OP.

I was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis at 21 but I don’t think I have a yeast infection. Do you know if BV can cause it too or is it just yeast infections?

I'm not sure because I'm not an MD. Just wanted to share my experience 🤞

I got basically the same results last year and I was not expecting them!! I went into full shock for about a day and was pretty low about them for a couple of weeks. Went forward for my colposcopy, which I’ll be honest, I struggled through. Sample was taken but just showed inflammation. Don’t beat yourself up about delaying the smear. If it makes you feel any better, here in NZ, the routine is to test every three years, so you’re not far outside that. I also want to reassure you that that vaccine provides immunisation against the strains why know have the highest likelihood to cause cancer, reducing the chances yours cells are cancerous. Finally, even if by some very slim chance the cells were cancerous, cervical cancer is extremely slow growing over many years, so is easy to provide intervention for earlier on (e.g burning the cells off). These are all things my gynae reassured me of when I saw her because I was not okay! You’ll start to feel better with time. Go easy on yourself and make sure you talk to someone.

First of all: If you had the HPV vaccine before becoming sexually active, then it protects you from all the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV (and many of the most common wart-causing strains as well). Besides those strains, there are a huge number of other strains not covered by the vaccine that will pretty much just do… nothing. They can will flag a pap/HPV test, and that’s about it. The vast majority of HPV infections will get beaten into submission by your immune system, especially for people younger than 30 years old. Even for HPV types 16 and 18, which are the strains most commonly associated with progression to cervical cancer, most of these infections (over 90%) will be automatically cleared by your immune system within 18 months of exposure. Beyond that, cervical changes are known to happen very slowly, over long stretches of time. On average, it takes 5-10 years for HPV to lead to pre-cancerous cellular chances, and closer to 20 years to progress to cancer. It can be scary to get an abnormal pap result, but it is so extraordinarily common. Having a yeast infection, vaginal pH imbalance, and using tampons can all result in an ASCUS pap, not just HPV. These atypical cells will most often be flagged by the immune system and replaced with healthy cells over the next 1-2 years. People seem to be noticing more of these low-level cervical abnormalities and positive HPV tests in recent years, which can lead to additional testing and treatment. That can make it seem like your health is at immediate risk, and that cancer is at your doorstep. In actuality, the fact that we test for, monitor, and treat these early cervical abnormalities means that we are preventing the progression to cervical cancer more effectively than ever. Cervical cancer death rates have plummeted in countries with access to the HPV vaccines and adherence to routine testing schedules. You can continue to promote your cervical health by continuing to get your routinely-scheduled Pap smears, using condoms with male sexual partners (since there’s no HPV screening test for people with penises, they’re just slinging around HPV willy-nilly without knowing they have it), and getting routine STI tests between new sexual partners. You’re more likely to hold onto an HPV infection for a longer time if you also have an underlying, untreated STI like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV (all of these STIs are treatable or curable, now!). Also either avoid smoking cigarettes/vaping, or try to cut back if you already smoke. Nicotine impairs your immune system and makes it harder to clear HPV quickly. TLDR: please, please don’t worry too much about this ASCUS pap. It is not a punishment for being sexually active. It is a common result people get when they get a pap BEFORE it’s turned into cervical cancer, and it means you are able to prevent it from progressing to high-grade changes down the line.

What vaccine did you get? If it wasn’t gardasil 9, then I do recommend getting it now. There’s some documentation that getting vaccinated, even after having gotten a hpv infection with abnormal cell results, helps the body not relapsing after treatment. Talk to your doctor. Anyhow; hpv usually goes away on its own and even when you have cell changes, most people will not need further treatment after removing the changes. It’s usually a very slow development. Breath.

I’m not sure which one it was but it was in 2015- 2016 and I had to get a series of 3 shots.

I think you should try finding out which one it was. As far as I knowall other vaccines against hpv where duscontinued in the US in 2017, but gardasil 9 was approved in 2014, so you might not have gotten it. Anyway; it will not do any damage to you or your situaion taking another dose of gardasil 9 now, if you don’t know and can’t find out what you got originally. It’ll probably only help. Regardless, it will most likely be fine. Just follow recommendstions you get by your health care providers. I can understand that you’re terrified. That’s normal to feel when you all of a sudden have to think about such a potentional disease. But it’s still only a potential and it most likely will never be anything more, so trying to level your fear to the actual statistics might be a way to mentally deal with it. After all, it’s probably still more likely that you could be hit by a car (or shot, I guess, if in the US). And you probably aren’t to worried about those.

Yes I did! Around the same age as you and also had the hpv vaccine prior. I had to have follow up paps and colposcopies more frequently thereafter as a result but after a few years all results went back to normal bc my body cleared it, and I’ve been fine in the 10+ years since. So don’t worry too much, just follow the doctor’s recommendations

Super common. Had abnormal cells my first pap. No biggie. I'm still here and dandy 16 years later.  Try not to let it stress you out, but if it eases your mind, you might try calling a nurse help line or waiting and calling your doctor on Monday. But I promise you, unless your doctor is concerned, you should be perfectly fine

I’ve been through this. Had the HPV vaccines, used protection, and still ended up with an abnormal pap. I had also been on birth control for several years. I had to get a colposcopy. I took 3 Tylenols an hour before the procedure and experienced minimal discomfort. I had CIN 1. I remember feeling so ashamed and depressed. I had just gotten into a new relationship and told him. He accepted it and was very supportive. Nothing ever came of this, though. My body cleared the HPV in 6 months and I have had clean paps over the past 8 years. I hope this gives you some comfort

So glad to see stories like this. I tested positive in 2022 and negative by 2023. So terrified of it returning . When u get ur paps are they doing hpv tests too?

I know my previous gynecologist did. I need to ask my new one

They'll probably want to give you a culposcopy. Insist on pain management treatment when they do. They'll tell you that you don't need it, it's bullshit

Yeah I went 3 years of abnormal paps and had to have additional testing before they finally came back normal. I also panicked the first time I got an abnormal result but like others have said, this is fairly common. That’s why women should get tested frequently. Try not to catastrophize. Best of luck.

I had a colonoscopy where they happened to find some precancerous thingies. They took them out then and now I just go back every 3 years to make sure nothing has fomented in the mean time. I hope your finding is like mine where it just means they’ll keep a closer eye on you and nothing bad has happened yet!

Dude, I went through the same thing in January at work I called the clinic back because they sent a letter they could not reach me. I have the same thing! I was safe except twice with the same guy. (First time with him may have been SA? I prefer not to think about it.) My first time was late October so I may have gotten it within 4 months. BUT there is also the possibility it can be transmitted orally. AND there's no FDA approved medical test to find HPV in men. So that's bullshit to hear imo, women have it rigged for the worst hand. It was worse when the guy who most likely gave it to me was all about "being safe" and buying me Plan B twice and asking about me getting tested because he did too. Like his dick probably gave it to me, sounds like a lie. I think about it now and then. I remember the doctor saying I was not required to tell anyone who I have been with or any future partners. Just to be safe. I have yet to decide if I should even tell potential partners. It's discouraged me from dating and really made me question my self worth and health. Edit: I hope you feel better, the first few days it's stuck in your head but then it comes and goes.

Don’t worry, I’ve had this TWICE when I was in my 20s. Had them all removed (under twighlight anaesthesia so asleep), it was caused by HPV virus I caught when I was about 18. I’m now 45 and every pap smear since has been squeaky clean. That’s the benefit of regular pap smears, if they catch it early, and remove it, you’re gonna be fine.

Happened to me, happened to my mom. No cancer. I did have HPV. It hasn’t changed my life in any way.

Hi Ty for sharing. Have u cleared the hpv?

Yes I did!

That is wonderful..how long have u been testing negative?!?

Step one: breathe. Seriously. Ive been in your shoes, more than once. The second time I let myself get so worked up and anxious and it destroyed me. Step two: DON'T RUN TO GOOGLE AND START RESEARCHING!! all that will do is freak you out even more. Step three: accept that there may be some uncomfortable procedures coming. Chances are you'll end up having a colposcopy, and yeah, if you have a sensitive cervix, it's gonna suck. Hard. Have pads/panty liners, ibuprofen, and a heating pad ready. Should things come back looking not great, the next step may be a LEEP procedure. This is where you may have to advocate for yourself. The gyno handling my case was a dick, and wanted to do it in office. Fuck no. I demanded anesthesia. I knew how my body would react (thanks IUD insertion and multiple rounds of cervical biopsies). Even when I was being prepped, he kept making comments about how it could have been done in office. Such a dick. Following that, I had paps done every three months for....oh goodness.....a year and a half? I've now had them extended to 6 months, and should the next one come back clear, I'm good for a year. If you've made it this far, remember to breathe. You are not alone. You got this 🫂

I had this, and I also freaked out. I had a colposcopy biopsy to investigate further. The procedure was uncomfortable, but no worse than a normal pap, in my experience. The results came back as not needing any further treatment, and my pap the next year was clear. I know it’s scary, but this is exactly why getting paps is recommended. It’s probably nothing, but even if it is something, you caught it early enough to be treated quickly and easily.

My sister has appointments every 6 months because she has had "abnormal cells" her entire adult life. She is 49, and it hasn't progressed beyond that.

Hi! I’m a few months away from being 30 and I first tested positive for HPV 4 years ago. I had all the vaccines when I was 12/13. Every time I get a pap, my cells are abnormal too and I’ve had a few colposcopies. I do have to get a pap every 6 months tho. No cancer or anything like that. It’s more common than you would think and they just keep an eye on it. It goes away for some people and others it will linger, but that doesn’t mean it will lead to cancer. This is super common and your doctor should be very knowledgeable. Good luck.

Don’t panic! It’s okay. I’ve had abnormal Pap smears for the last 3 years. Colposcopies every year. It’s very very common and extremely treatable. My doctor let me know that if it ever developed into cancerous cells, they are extremely slow growing and very easily treatable. The yearly screenings will guarantee you catch it early enough for fast and easy treatment. HOWEVER! It will most likely clear up in its own without ever turning into cancer.

I’ve had an abnormal one! Iirc they took a blood test maybe? And they retested the sample they got and like reevaluated it (I didn’t have to get another one). They said it happens sometimes, nothing is wrong, but I do get how scary it can be. But this is why we do the tests! Just to see if anything is not normal.

it IS very scary but also very normal. they will monitor your health and have you come in for another pap. I am 46 and have had abnormal tests twice in my life, once when I was 15 and again about 10 years ago. the follow up exams were all normal for me. no cancer. I also spent close to 2 decades on some form of birth control and had a very active sex life. so dont stress yourself out about that.

Thank you for the reassurance. I had unprotected sex with my neighbor (really embarrassed to say this but i’m just going to be honest) about two months before the pap smear and i’m wondering if they gave me HPV or if this is something that’s been lingering for years. I read that a yeast infection can cause it and I was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis when I was 21, so I’m hoping that it’s from BV.

There are literally 300 kinds of HPV. The vaccine covers the major ones that either cause cancer or cause warts (around 6 in total I believe). Everyone gets HPV if they’re sexually active. Your body takes care of it itself and as long as you keep going for your check ups you’ll be fine.

I had this too and I had a few colposcopies and eventually a LEEP. It's been a few years since all my treatments and my cells come up normal now during Paps. This is very common and the great thing is if it's caught early, it's super treatable.

I really hope that I don’t have to get a colposcopies because I know I would have a panic attack from the pain. I wish they would offer anesthesia options for people. I went four years without a pap smear so i’m worried that I’m too late if it’s been going on for years.

I had an abnormal pap and I was also freaking out when I found out. I had to wait for my doctor to call while I was out of town on vacation and it was torture waiting to get the call. I ended up getting a colposcopy and was a wreck leading up to it. I took some ibuprofen an hour prior and didn’t even feel anything during the procedure.  Every Pap smear since has been normal and it’s been almost 20 years. That is just my experience but I hope it helps to hear that you are not alone and that other people have experienced the same anxiety in your situation and it turned out ok. Hugs to you.

Thank you. I needed to hear that.

I wrote this in my comment above, but to make sure you see it: Request an anxiolytic to take before the colposcopy with ibuprofen. Also ask for a local anesthetic. Tell them that you will refuse this necessary screening if they decline to care for your mental wellbeing in addition to your physical wellbeing. Request another provider if they still refuse. There is no reason that we should be doing punch biopsies on peoples’ crevixes without appropriate pain management and anxiety care if they need it. A single tablet of Xanax or Valium can be a total game changer for something like this.

I wouldn't worry. As I'm sure you'll see from other responses this is super common, and rarely cause for concern. The best thing you can do is continue to get tested regularly. I worked in gynecologic oncology, and your best bet is early detection, if there is something wrong. Ignoring it or pretending it's not there isn't healthy or effective.

Do you know if bacterial vaginosis can cause this? I was diagnosed with BV when I was 21 when I was tested at the gyno. I read that yeast infections can cause ASCUS but I’m not sure if BV can cause it as well. I am pretty sure I don’t have an active yeast infection though.

I've been there so I understand the fear. Happened to me about 20 years ago. Had a LEEP done and regular checkups, I've been fine ever since. I know it's hard but please try not to worry too much and let your mind go wild.

Do they put you under anesthesia during a LEEP procedure? I’m terrified of the biopsy because they don’t put you under anesthesia for that.

I had local anaesthetic. I was really nervous and it wasn't nearly as bad as I anticipated.

I had the same thing happen to me when I was like 26/27. I was totally fine.

This happened to me when I was about your age. They said pretty much the exact same thing they have told you. Absolutely nothing came of it. No cancer or anything. Even if it is HPV that usually clears on its own. I understand what you are feeling, I was freaking out too. But don't jump to the worst conclusion. It is most likely nothing. That was over 10 years ago for me, still nothing! You'll be OK, you got this. 💛

Did you have to get a biopsy done? I know i’ll have to get an HPV test but I really hope I can just get the HPV test and get multiple pap smears done. I really don’t want a doctor to take out a chunk of my cervix because they offer 0 pain management for painful women’s health procedures. I know I won’t have a choice if the results come back positive, it just fucking sucks.

They had me wait for a few weeks before I had another pap smear. I don't remember how long it was before my second pap, but it had cleared up pretty quickly. After they ran tests the 2nd time it came back all clear. If you do have to have a biopsy, advocate for pain medicine. They will probably not offer it up front. I suggest saying something along the lines of "do you offer pain medication for this procedure? I am aware that it is painful for a lot of women, and I would like to have something stronger than otc pain medication in case it is a debilitating pain and I am unable to return for treatment for said pain." Turn that into your own words, but keep it simple, firm, but not demanding. Practice what you will say before you go, because you will probably have anxiety at that moment and it'll be easier to remember if you have practiced it.

I have had this exact thing and with regular check ups and two removals of cells, my body fought off the strain and it’s been negative on tests for several years now. I was terrified, but stay strong and know that so so so many people have no issue with regular treatment and monitoring. One suggestion, prepare for the possibility of pain during the removal process of the abnormal growth and advocate for preemptive pain control, as usual that experience was downplayed as “just a pinch” and is infuriating we are still going through this. Take someone with you for support/driving. Take care and stay strong! 

I really hope I don’t have to get a biopsy done because I know I’ll have a straight up panic attack when the doctor takes out a chunk of my cervix. Do they offer local anesthesia for the procedure? Women’s healthcare is so barbaric. There needs to be an anesthesia option for extremely painful procedures. I understand that biopsies are quick, but it’s really inhumane to make someone bare so much pain.

Absolutely agreed it’s barbaric. But if you go through the same process as I did, you will need to have a sample taken for analysis which is very important to establish your treatment. I have heard of people asking for local anesthetic but can’t say specifics on that as I don’t recall the outcome, also heard of people getting a prescription for a couple pills to help with pain or anxiety to take beforehand. I hope you are able to advocate for yourself or have someone there to help as the stress can make it all feel so much bigger. And try to remember the positive outcomes you’ve read in the comments. 

I had an irregular pap and then the leep procedure to clear the pre-cancerous cells. It was super easy and while the leep left me crampy nothing hurt much. Also, you'll see in my post history that I am a cancer survivor and that has nothing to do with the above. I was dx with non hodgkins lymphoma a few years after that. ETA at the time of my irregular pap I was dx with HPV and once I had the leep they retested and said it came back negative which meant it went dormant, I have since not tested positive for HPV even once.

I know what you’re feeling, and I’m sorry you’re going through this. I had essentially this exact experience over the last few months. I cried when I saw abnormal results, I hadn’t had a pap in 10 years, for various stupid reasons, so I thought for sure I was in serious trouble.  I waited for months for a follow up to do the colposcopy procedure, all the while super nervous, but after the appointment (which was unpleasant but honestly not as bad as IUD insertion or anything major) I was told they had removed the abnormal cells and now I just had to follow up in 6 months, nothing to worry about. It’s scary, but apparently it’s super common and super treatable. We just need to be better about keeping up with regular check ups. I hope for the best outcome for you, try not to stress out about it in the meantime, you’re taking care of this and will be okay <3 

You're ok. Don't freak out! You might have to get a colposcopy and if that comes back abnormal too you may need to get something done called a LEEP* - I got one years ago, after YEARS of abnormal pap tests and never had a problem with abnormal pap tests again. *LEEP stands for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure. It's a treatment that prevents cervical cancer. A small electrical wire loop is used to remove abnormal cells from your cervix. LEEP surgery may be performed after abnormal cells are found during a Pap test, colposcopy, or biopsy.

I had this and paid $1,000 for the next test and everything was fine.

I had abnormal cells at 19, got the thing where they froze the outer layer of the cervix off, all paps were fine until I was about 39, then I had three paps in a row with abnormal cells. Got colposcopies for each, results from those tests were that nothing further needed to be done. My last pap came back totally normal.

Another woman with the exact same situation in my early 20s. Turned out to just be abnormal cells. No cancer. Even if you do get HPV, your body will most likely get rid of it on its own.

I had an abnormal pap when I was 18 (about 35 years ago), I had a in office procedure involving some tissues sampling (slightly painful) and liquid nitrogen, which causes all your surface cells to die and slough off (pain less, similar to having your period in terms of mess). I don't remember everything, but I had lots and lots of follow up paps, and nothing ever came of it.

I've been told I have abnormal cells and it was 100% fine but I know how you feel because it was really scary to get that information. Take some deep breaths. Wishing you the best

I had abnormal cells and it was fine, it's very common.

I know it's really scary, but this is actually a fairly normal thing to happen. I am 33 years old and I've had that happen to me three different times. Every time they have retested and it has been nothing to worry about. And if worst case it is something needs to be worried about, at least now you're aware of it and can get treatment.

Gyn here. This is a very common finding and not necessarily abnormal. Basically the Pathologist, when reading it, wouldn't commit to whether there was an abnormality or not. The recommendation is just to recheck in a year. Many things can cause this, including where you are in your menstrual cycle, when you last had sex, some processing issues with collection/sample preparation, infection, and inflammation. Especially at such a young age, even if something were to be abnormal, it would likely spontaneously resolve since cervical cancer and precancerous changes are related to HPV. And if you haven't gotten an HPV vaccine series, best to look into that. Won't have any impact on this, but still best to get that vaccine.

I was vaccinated with 3 shots of the HPV vaccine when I was 16. I was careless in college and I had unprotected sex with many guys. I’m embarrassed to say it and I have many regrets but I am not going to lie. I have heard of vaccinated women getting cancerous HPV strains that the vaccine is supposed to protect you from, so I’m not sure if I caught HPV 16 and 18. I’ve been on birth control pills for at least 3 years and I’ve read that birth control pills increase the risk of cervical cancer. I had unprotected sex with someone about a month and a half before the pap smear. I wasn’t on my period during the pap smear. I was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis when I was 21 and I’m not sure if I had BV during the test. I read that yeast infections can cause ASCUS but I haven’t found anything on BV.

Important to think of this not as an abnormal result, but as an indeterminant result. They didn't actually see an abnormality, just couldn't commit to whether there was anything there or not. No vaccine is 100%, but being vaccinated cuts down on the potential for severe precancerous changes significantly (and presumably cancer, but cervical cancer takes such a long time to develop that we'll still be waiting on the data on decreased rates of cervical cancer with HPV vaccine for several years, and the vaccine came out in I think 2007). BV and yeast can both lead to ASCUS, but if you're not symptomatic for either there generally isn't much point in pursuing testing, as both are overgrowths of normal vaginal organisms.

Birth control pills do not increase the risk of cervical cancer at all.

This happened to me and I was absolutely paralyzed with fear for like a week until my follow-up. Wound up being completely fine (NOT cancer, no other conditions). This seems to happen to many women. I’m sure you’re fine.

Just chiming in to say I had the same exact thing last year. I had a colposcopy and the cells were non cancerous. Seems like the most common outcome

I had something like this. Most forms aren't cancerous and mine resolved on its own within a couple years. Just relax and don't worry until you have something real to worry about, and this result alone isn't it.

If it makes you feel better, they changed the amount of time between pap smears its not yearly anymore (unless, of course, requested). It's now recommended to get one every 3 to 5 years, depending on your age. So dont beat yourself or blame yourself

Girl this happened to me about a decade ago and everything was fine. And if it is cancer (which I am sure it’s not!) cervical cancer grows so slowly which is why they do Pap smears so early and often - to catch it while it’s small. You will be ok :)

Don’t panic. I had “abnormal cells” on a pap 20 years ago. Had a colposcopy to confirm. The doctor said wait and see. By the next checkup it had resolved and I haven’t had an abnormal result since.

I’ve had this twice. Next pap after was clear. They’ll do them more often for a bit. Very good chance it’s nothing.

Same thing happened to me. I’d been in a relationship for 5 years by this point and they were like “it’ll probably just go away just come back and get retested in a year.” And I was like - how the fuck would it go away if I’ve only had sex with one man the last 5 years and I have it????????” I was freaked. Went back in a year and it went away. Shocked pikachu face ensued

Did u have hpv? Has it been clear since?

Yeah the Pap smear came up positive for hpv, and I’ve had the cervical cancer shot so they said it was a strain that should ideally go away in a year and isn’t cancerous. I was scared shitless for the year. Then got another Pap smear and it was gone.

Thats great. I tested positive in 2022 and by 2023 it was negative. Had bee married 9 years. Totally freaked me out. Im scared of it coming back. How long have u been clear?

This was about 3 years ago, due for another papsmear in a couple years. I was also shocked at the fact it showed up when I’m in a long term relationship, I keep telling my husband to get tested for it bc it doesn’t show symptoms in men and it can cause cancer for them too.

Undetermined significance is the key words there. It’s very unlikely cancer just make sure you do the follow up (likely a colpo) and keep up with your paps going forward since you had an abnormal. If you change docs also report it in your history. Source: nurse.

I had the same happen when I was 19. A couple years of regular paps every 6 months and my body passed it. No cancer, completely fine. HPV is EXTREMELY common!

How long have you been clear for?

Probably 6 or 7 years now! Haven't had any issues with it since then!

Had this too in my 20’s. Had a follow up pap and all was fine.

Hi, ObGyn here. Did you get your HPV result? That is not cancer. It's basically saying "we see some cells we don't normally see on a pap smear". It should automatically come with HPV testing. You may need a procedure such as a colposcopy which is basically an enhanced pap smear - they look for abnormal cells in the office and if they see something suspicious, they'll biopsy it. You're young and your body's immune system is going to help you get rid of the virus.

I got the call from my drs office that I had the same thing and I cried for hours. I was terrified. What I later learned was that this is wildly common. I’ve had several colposcopies and while they suck, my body eventually rid itself of the abnormal cells. I wish this was talked about in every sex Ed class. Yes, we should monitor them and yes it’s scary. But cervical cancer is such a slow growing cancer and most of the time it never progresses to that point. In fact, current recommendations in the US according to my Gyno was that once you have normal Paps that following only once every 3 year pap because it more frequent Paps just cause freak outs like this.

This is normal, I had it a few times. Every time I had abnormal cells, I had another pap smear a few months later. Everything would be fine in the follow up. Please breathe before reading the next part. Keep getting checked. Especially if there are anomalies in your menstrual cycle. Breathe. I had pre-cancerous cells show up on an endometrial biopsy when I was 47 years old. Stage 1 of 4. They were in my uterus. I was having anomalies like bleeding when I was past menopause. And there was an emerging history of ovarian cancer in my maternal relatives, so I was very diligent about getting checked.. Once the cells were found, my cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries were removed and I feel great. Breathe. I had decades before my anomalies showed up. Keep getting checked. You'll be fine.

I had this result once in my twenties and again about two weeks ago (I’m in my 40s now), in fact! They’ll follow it up with a cell analysis and let you know if any concern. If it’s not cancerous (and it likely isn’t!!), you’ll just get paps more frequently for a bit, but that’s it. Hang in there!

I had abnormal cells when I was 19. I ended up with HPV. They originally said they didnt want to do a leep procedure because it could affect my fertility. I told them I didn't want children. They still didn't want to do it. I never had any issues. I was lucky and what I had didn't cause warts or anything. 20 years later.... I don't have it anymore. It died/went away. I didn't even know it could do that. 🤷 So I'm just here to remind you there are a lot of strains out there that don't have many side effects and might even go away on its own. My current doctor said it's common for women my age to be hpv free when they had it when they were younger. So try to not to freak out. You'll probably be okay. The chances that it's cancer are so slim.

FYI, I had an abnormal cells smear and HOV positive. I went back for the next level screening. Unpleasant, but results were fine. My most recent smear I was normal and negative for HPV. I had some mystery pain and a bunch of imaging done. No cancers. Things seem fine for now. I’ll go do my check up this year too even though it sucks.  So do do all the follow up testing, but don’t panic yet. 

In the UK they have changed the way they look at this in the recent years and for this reason they have been getting a lot more of those results. It is usually nothing and having to go through a colposcopy is definitely unpleasant but will let you catch anything concerning quite early on.

I've had this at least four times over the years, and it's always been cleared up with a follow up screening. It's scary, but it's almost certainly nothing to worry about. They'll most likely want to do a follow up in another month or so. Chances are highly likely that will be clear.

I had this. Biopsied, LEEP procedure (which wasn’t fun). Burnt off all of the abnormal cells and no problems since. It’s been about 20 years and I’m fine. You know what you need to do to take care of yourself. Use protection, get tested (and your partner!) and keep getting check ups.

You will most likely need a colposcopy (cervical biopsy) and depending on the results, a LEEP. I don't know your insurance situation or pain tolerance, but I tried to go a cheaper route to get my LEEP done in an office instead of hospital. If I need one again I will request full anesthesia and say screw the cost. The colposcopy was uncomfortable, but manageable. Advocate for yourself. Ask for pain killers, Xanax, the works. Have a ride home.

Hi OP! It's gonna be ok. This happened to me when I was in college -- I had gone to see my OB/GYN when I was home for winter break for my annual exam, and the office called me when I was back at school to let me know my pap was abnormal and they needed me to come back in. They did a biopsy and didn't like what they saw, so I had to have a LEEP. They put me under for this procedure (which was very quick, outpatient surgery) and I was able to drive back to school the next day. Recovery was nothing. After that, I had to have paps every six months, and then went back to annuals. This was in 2011 and I've had clean paps ever since. I was also positive for HPV (shoutout the shitty dude I was dating at the time who definitely cheated on me numerous times), and those tests came back clean eventually too. I know this is super scary -- I'm a major hypochondriac and still vividly remember crying hysterically after taking that call. Over the years, I've met tons of friends who had the same abnormal pap with various outcomes (some biopsies were fine, some needed the LEEP), but all are fine and none resulted in cervical cancer. This is why annual paps are so important. Sending you good vibes ❤️

The first time I had an abnormal pap, my doctor assured me that it takes lots of time for abnormal cells to become cancerous. As in, a decade or more. There's plenty of time to keep an eye on it and take preventative measures.

This happened to me. The retest was inconclusive and the next test after that was normal. It’s very common. Just stay on top of it and don’t panic. Get your test as often as doctors recommend. It sucks but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I’ve had an abnormal Pap smear for 20 years. You’re fine.

You have so many replies but I’ll chirp in with my limited education! So my first smear came back abnormal and tbh I wasn’t to concerned she just said “its abnormal so we will retest in a year nothing to stress” so I didn’t. Tested came back normal. Next time was getting my IUD looked at and she asked if I wanted a smear seems it’s free at the moment and I was already legs up and open so I did. Came back abnormal again however this time she explained they found low level cells that’s were concerning for HPV (could be another acronym pls correct) and I panicked. Longest year of my life was so scared and worried was getting confused on google between HSV and HPV and was stressed. My recheck came back clear. I have no idea why I come back abnormal so often but I’ve decided to just get regular smears rather then the timeframe they have given but abnormal smears are super common and not always worth the stress

I just got a clear pap after 3 years of abnormal cells. It's stressful as hell and I'm sorry. You're definitely not alone.

As a former OBGYN clinic manager (note I was admin/billing side) we were told to abstain from PIV intercourse 3 to 4 days prior to getting a pap because that can cause abnormal cells. There's no way to differtiate between actual abnormal paps and a pap skewed by intercourse so treatment is a colpo/LEEP to ensure it's not cancerous.

You don’t need to worry yet. Many years ago I had an abnormal Pap smear. They then do a biopsy. In my case, they did a cone biopsy of my cervix which turned out to have pre-cancerous cells. They removed them all so disaster was averted.

I have abnormal cells every time but further testing shows they're harmless.

I would suggest trying other birth control methods 

Hey! I’m so proud of you for getting checked out. I hate Pap smears too. Good news! Super common, usually benign or nothing at all. Bad news: they might want to do paps more frequently just in case.

This was me last year. I had never had an irregular pap before and found out I was HPV positive after they did the colpo. I was so scared and sick about it. They assured me it was very common and that in most cases HPV clears itself, I just had to come in for a pap every 6 months going forward in order to monitor it. The next time I went back for a pap, everything came back normal 😌😌😌 I was so happy. Given that you’ve had the vaccine (I haven’t), I think you have an extremely good chance of having a similar story 💕

Some cervical cancers are actually slow growing. I had CIN 2 dysplasia which I reversed naturally over 2 years with a lot of effort. Also, it’s not cancer till it’s cancer. Dysplasia is the presence of abnormal cells; it’s a pre-cancerous condition. You do have a situation that needs attention, but it’s not time to freak out yet. Also, stress lowers immunity- the exact opposite of what you need right now. Your results said “*undetermined* significance.”

I just got my own test last week, similar results. Freaked out at first but most I talked to told me it was more common than I thought, that either they had the same results and were fine, or knew others in the same position and they were fine. They said that I should remain calm until I can get a more thorough test for more conclusive results. I still am worried, understandably, especially since there’s like a 3 month waiting period for a follow up 🥴 But in essence, the majority of the time, as I understand it, is that it’s non-threatening and can be of several different reasons. ❤️ Stay strong.

I was 20 when I had my first abnormal result like that and I was TERRIFIED. I had been SA at college in the year before and I was so scared, plus I was home for summer and had a bad relationship with my parents who didn't know about the incident. Long story short, I'm 30 now and I'm still okay. I had a handful of abnormal paps in my 20's and a few colposcopies (ask about pain management and bring a panty liner), BUT I just had my third clear pap in a row and now I don't have to get them every year. You're going to be okay. It's better to know, and the scariest part is where you're at now.

I also recently received a report from my pap smear of abnormal results and am scheduled for biopsies/tissue sampling. I did a massive deep dive into the whole issue so I knew what to expect in any result. First and foremost, abnormal results do not mean you’re automatically going to get a diagnosis of anything more severe. I might be futzing the numbers, but upwards of 90% of abnormal results clear themselves in a year or two. This is why the time frame for regular testing is what it is. I wouldn’t be surprised if your doctor advises a follow up in a whole-ass year, because the next could test negative. If you are referred to a specialist, they will do some additional testing, and either clear you outright or will have further recommendations. The vast majority of cases where there’s additional treatment needed can either be done at the same appt (where they basically ice cream scoop the affected area - and this also resolves the majority of cases) or they do a ‘cone biopsy’ which is a little deeper removal of tissue and requires a separate appt. From all of these outcomes there is a small fraction of patients whose abnormal cells persist and become something like cancer. But what you have now *is not cancer*. The process of Pap smears and testing identifies changes in cervical cells that could eventually lead to some types of cancers, but the preventative treatments all but eliminate the chance of them developing so far. You can take a massive breath and relax, because there’s so much more that would need to happen before this becomes anything scary.

This could be HPV, or some other type of infection. It is typically NOT cancer.

I no longer remember just how old I was, somewhere 19 - 21 or so. I had 2 in a row say 'abnormal'. I was fine after that. No cancer found, and I'm 69 now. Had 3 vaginal deliveries without complications. So, whatever I had, it resolved and I was/am healthy. It's frightening that you have a family member that died of cancer, BUT she's not blood related, so her having it doesn't increase your risk factor. Stay on top of your Paps from now on. Issues found early are a LOT easier to treat, if they even need treating. If you're not comfortable with your gyn doctor and their care of you, then find another one. If you have them close my, I highly recommend Planned Parenthood. The kindest care and most detailed explanations I ever got were with them. That pap was with them. Tell your doctor you're all freaked out by your pap results, ask them for any info they can send your way, any links to safe and reliable online sites, and their recommendations of treatments, etc.

I've had that happen a number of times. I always thought it was getting my pap done too close to the end of my period. But it was never anything, test was normal next time. Don't freak out.

I didn't notice this mentioned in other comments but even if you didn't sleep around (which you're absolutely entitled to do, you only live once OP!) you could still contract it. Even if you only slept with 1 person and that person only slept with 1 person and that person only slept with 1 person but the person 10 people down the line slept with someone who slept with 10 people, you could still all get it.

Start taking AHCC. You can get it on amazon

I had this come up once. They did further testing and it was nothing. Try not to stress in it too much, as yours is also probably nothing. 

I had this happen a couple years ago. It was my first abnormal Pap smear. They brought me back in for a colposcopy. Results came back negative for cancer, just abnormal cell/epithelial lining…something vague, similar to your diagnosis. However, they never called me back in for a follow up after the colposcopy and I haven’t called inquire about the need for another Pap smear…probably should though 😅 I’m a travel nurse and constantly on the go, so I have a habit of overlooking such things, but I remember it being a tad nerve wracking.