Sjogren's Syndrome Support Group

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva. It also associated with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, and it is rheumatoid factor positive in 90 percent of cases.

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Abnormal PAP Smear with SjS

RTZJ9
RTZJ9
Since being diagnosed with Sjogren's I have had two abnormal Pap Smears and two Colposcopies only to discover that the changes on my cervix were related to vaginal dryness.

Has this happened with any of you?

Anyone have any recommendations to prevent this result in a pap smear in the future?

Do you think this could evolve into cervical cancer?

Does anyone have any statistics relating cervical cancer and Sjogren's?

Any comments, thoughts or discussions are welcome.

Jeanine
deleted_user
deleted_user
Although I don't know the exact percentage with regard to cervical cancer, people with SS do generally have an increased occurrence of cancers.

All your questions are best directed to your OBGYN. Your doc should know best.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Personally, I wouldn't rely on any GYN. With all of the obvious problems I was having regarding delicate membrane tissue and unusual atrophy, even for my age (64), the GYN should have thought about a Sjogren's related problem. However, on my own, I asked my opthamologist for a Sjogren's blood test (SSA, SSB, ANA, and RF). Supposedly, all four came back negative. Well, that's great...but all 8 symptoms didn't disappear including those that are gynecologically related. Once I tested negative for Sjogren's and told my GYN, he became exasperated how to help me. The topical hormone creams and/or tablets, burned me alive after two months of use, and other compounds did the same, so there was no relief there. He suggested that I was "obsessed" with my "problem" we will say. I would have liked to have suggested to him that he'd be obsessed with certain body parts if he was on fire all of the time. I stopped seeing this quack. He wasted my time and money and did nothing to help. On the other hand, I don't think there's any help available for this problem other than creams or moisturizers, and I can not use either without worse effects than the problem, itself. I wish the best for you. You're too young for these kinds of physical challenges. I'm 64 and have always had a fun, active, life, and I didn't begin this nightmare until age 62. It may have been hovering in the background for about a decade, but not to the point that I knew for sure that something was wrong. With you, however, the creams or moisturerizers may very well help you!
Don't despair. It may all disappear.
dadsgirl1
dadsgirl1
Well my body has it a little backwards, in that when I was around 25, I was DX'd with Cervical cancer. I did not get DX'd with SS until 2 years ago, which is 30 years later. So I wouldn't think they are related, but I have had various problems that I believe relate to auto-immune since my early 20's... So is it related? Probably not, but I think that getting both is just another way in which my body is breaking down early with auto-immune problems.

Continue to get paps regularly. Since I had surgery and had the cancer removed, I have not had an irregular pap, but I always keep up with it every year.

Good luck and have a nice day.
lateedah
lateedah
Just a FYI for oasisinth: I was diagnosised with Vulvadynia by my Gyn a few years before the SS was found. No creams worked for me either. Please research Vulvadynia and see if that is your problem.
I am also in my 60's but was only 49 when the gyn problems began.