Hi I’ve had abnorma cells years ago that are at the present time normal, but high risk hpv still present. I have not needed any procedures done so far but I know others on here who have and will be of more help. Good luck

My doctor said they would remove my cervix if it keeps coming back, but I am 47 years old.

I am having my first LEEP on June 4th. I asked what are the odds that the abnormal cells come back since I still am testing positive for HPV. She said studies show 30-70% chance of them coming back. I certainly dont like those odds. I'm 52 so why not remove the entire cervix now? I'm not going to become pregnant so why wait? She said they go with the least invasive procedures first. I feel like a ticking time bomb. Plus I have to pay for these many expensive doctor visits and tests. I dont have money for all of this, my deductible is $6,300. If there is still Medicare when I'm 62 I will push for them removing the cervix, the constant anxiety of HPV causing causing torments me.

Hi, I'm new here. I'm 30 years old and had normal paps up until a general check up this past September, 2017. They found HPV 16 and abnormal cells. I had a colposcopy done which returned showing CIN 2/3. I was scheduled for a LEEP in November to remove the pre-cancerous cells. I work in health care, and yet all of this escaped me. I didn't understand much of what I was being told, and thought I basically had cancer for sometime, before researching more about the above terminology. For example, I thought squamous cells meant cancer, when really that's just the term for the cells on the cervix. All I heard was squamous and that made me think of squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer). Why name them that?? And why don't the physicians explain things more clearly?
I'm not answering anyone's question directly. But I have learned a lot and want to share. From my research speaking with physicians I work with, and various specialists, I've learned that I could have had HPV for years, and most likely have, even though I've only ever had clear paps. Our immune system suppressed the virus. If our immune system stops suppressing it, it will show up on a pap smear, and can cause these abnormal cells to show up as well. Having a LEEP, or even a cone biopsy, doesn't eradicate the HPV virus. It will remove the pre-cancerous cells and the physical viral cells from the surface of your cervix. Your body might show no HPV on your next however many paps, but it can show up again anytime and that's OK. Although the high risk HPV's (16 and 18) can cause cervical cancer, if you follow a regime with your physician including regular check ups, it is highly unlikely that the abnormal cells will have the chance to turn into cancer. You have a greater chance of getting some other kind of cancer that isn't being monitored so closely. You DO need to be monitored with regular pap smears and colposcopies when necessary, to stay on top of things.
I'm heading in for a 6 month check up that includes a colposcopy. My CIN 2/3 was advanced (not cancer, though) so they are taking precautions.
You can have babies after LEEP procedures! I want multiple children. I wouldn't dive into a bunch of cone biopsies without necessary reason, and I do think that some physicians jump into things a bit quickly, so always get a 2nd opinion if you're not sure. Multiple LEEPs increase a women's chances of delivering early, because of how the cervix is affected, but in this day and age this can be prevented. It's more dangerous to leave CIN 2 or 3 cells in without treatment. From my understanding, it is best to watch and wait with CIN 1. Which means you follow your physicians instructions about coming back in for follow up to see if it your body has healed the abnormal cells (which it absolutely can do with a healthy immune boosting lifestyle), or if a LEEP is smarter for you at that time.
I don't know if this ramble helped at all. I'm going to be reviewing lots of posts and adding in any information I have received. If anyone disagrees with anything I've posted or has any questions, please respond!
My overall feeling nowadays is gratitude. I went through a range of emotions after being diagnosed, but have realized wow we are so lucky to have preventative medicine. Anxiety and fears are a part of knowing more, but the prevention of cervical cancer is the prize, and a pretty darn good one.
Have a great day :)

So we don't have to be afraid of cancer because they are watching us closely with regular pap smears and hpv tests. I have anxiety over this issue because I have to trust my doctor.

Preventative medicine doesn’t completely eradicate the chance of cancer but yes it can reduce it to a point where this doesn’t need to be a daily worry for you. We need to have good doctors who run the appropriate tests like pap, colposcopy, etc. Also you can take even more control (which helps my anxiety at least!) and eat an immune boosting diet/natural supplements. There are naturopathic doctors who focus on the science behind food. Heading to my 2nd colposcopy now, armouring myself with thoughts about being lucky to be able to get these tests checked early and often. Good luck

I want to add that your decisions behind procedures also has to do with your reproductive age / if you want children

to canadiancrewgg: I hope your 2nd colposcopy goes well. I had the LEEP (a success) and will have another pap smear in about 3 1/2 months.