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UrbanAngel · 05-11-2005, 06:31 AM

Hi Abaya

I recently also had my first abnormal pap. Mine came back as mild dysplasia, which, unfortunately, means I do have HPV (which is what causes dysplasia in 99% of cases.) If yours just came back as slightly abnormal (classified ASCUS), it could be caused by other factors, though, tampon-use, dryness, really any kind of irritation could cause it to come back with very mild abnormalities. Even if you do test positive for HPV though, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Most people are surprised to learn that 80% of the sexually active population picks up a strain of HPV at some point in their life, but most peoples immune systems get on top of the virus before it has a chance to get picked up by your pap smear, or cause external symptoms. And the type of HPV that causes cervical cell changes is not the same strain that causes warts, so there aren't any external symptoms for those strains. You just have to be careful to keep up with all your appointments if you have the "high-risk" (cell-changing) variety of HPV, so it doesn't have a chance to develop into something dangerous.

Like I said though, I really wouldn't worry about it for now. It could be caused by lots of different things, not just HPV - It's REALLY common for women to have an abnormal test at some point.

05-11-2005, 06:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
UrbanAngel Upright	abnormal pap Hi Abaya I recently also had my first abnormal pap. Mine came back as mild dysplasia, which, unfortunately, means I do have HPV (which is what causes dysplasia in 99% of cases.) If yours just came back as slightly abnormal (classified ASCUS), it could be caused by other factors, though, tampon-use, dryness, really any kind of irritation could cause it to come back with very mild abnormalities. Even if you do test positive for HPV though, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Most people are surprised to learn that 80% of the sexually active population picks up a strain of HPV at some point in their life, but most peoples immune systems get on top of the virus before it has a chance to get picked up by your pap smear, or cause external symptoms. And the type of HPV that causes cervical cell changes is not the same strain that causes warts, so there aren't any external symptoms for those strains. You just have to be careful to keep up with all your appointments if you have the "high-risk" (cell-changing) variety of HPV, so it doesn't have a chance to develop into something dangerous. Like I said though, I really wouldn't worry about it for now. It could be caused by lots of different things, not just HPV - It's REALLY common for women to have an abnormal test at some point.