“Abnormal pap test results?”
I had my first ever pap test in February 2020 which came back abnormal, LSIL. I wanted a retest and had this done in March 2020, this has now come back normal. Should I have another done in 6 months? Could I have HPV? Should I be worried?
Female | 22 years old
Complaint duration: 1 month
Medications: Birth Control Pill
Conditions: None
2 Answers
OB-GYN(Obstetrician-Gynecologist)|GynecologyOB-GYN
Dr. Victoria Mondloch
OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist) | Gynecology
Your questions is a good one. First of all, an abnormal Pap with LSIL or low grade abnormality should ALWAYS have the HPV typing done, that should be an automatic reflex test done on that level of abnormal Pap. If the HPV typing was NOT done, then ask your provider to add that testing on, it should still be able to be read as a part of that Pap test even though it’s 2 months old (most labs hang onto the test for a period of time); they may be an extra charge for that service but your insurance should pick that up. If it is too late, then get it the next go around. Why would the test then go back to normal? Realize that despite being on birth control pills, your own underlying female hormone levels are still a part of your chemical health of your female tract. However, the longer you are on birth control pills, the stronger the influence on your ovaries to ‘go on vacation’ and not make enough female hormone. The higher the dose of birth control pill and the longer you are on birth control, the less your ovaries make of their own female hormone.
Also, are you a smoker? Smoking actually helps contribute to abnormal Pap smears so the quick answer is to quit if you are indeed a smoker.
What can you do to help yourself? What most patients are never told is that they can help themselves get healthy tissue on their cervix by taking METHYLFOLATE 1gm or 1,000mg daily. The methyl is just as important as the Folate or Folic Acid; sometimes I will tell my patients to just take a prenatal vitamin but not all prenatals have the METHYLfolate. Look for the METHYLfolate or METHYLFolic acid which is the best that you can take.
Does having a LSIL Pap now mean it will always progress? As you just found out, NO. Progression to a higher form of abnormality doesn’t always occur, you can reverse it back to normal all on your own with the proper supplements like METHYLfolate and cutting out nicotine as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco or other products with nicotine. However, once a cervix progresses to a severe or in situ abnormal Pap, then it usually requires a surgical removal of this abnormal tissue; even then, the cervix will regenerate new tissue but it may be weakened and show up as a cervix that fails to remain closed during a pregnancy, resulting in premature delivery of a baby.
Also, are you a smoker? Smoking actually helps contribute to abnormal Pap smears so the quick answer is to quit if you are indeed a smoker.
What can you do to help yourself? What most patients are never told is that they can help themselves get healthy tissue on their cervix by taking METHYLFOLATE 1gm or 1,000mg daily. The methyl is just as important as the Folate or Folic Acid; sometimes I will tell my patients to just take a prenatal vitamin but not all prenatals have the METHYLfolate. Look for the METHYLfolate or METHYLFolic acid which is the best that you can take.
Does having a LSIL Pap now mean it will always progress? As you just found out, NO. Progression to a higher form of abnormality doesn’t always occur, you can reverse it back to normal all on your own with the proper supplements like METHYLfolate and cutting out nicotine as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco or other products with nicotine. However, once a cervix progresses to a severe or in situ abnormal Pap, then it usually requires a surgical removal of this abnormal tissue; even then, the cervix will regenerate new tissue but it may be weakened and show up as a cervix that fails to remain closed during a pregnancy, resulting in premature delivery of a baby.
Hello,
I would think that your doctor would have you retest again after 6 months (although, a year would not be below the standard of care). Almost always, an HPV test is done at the same time as the PAP. Did you ask your doctor if an HPV test was done?
Joseph A. Adashek, MD FACOG
I would think that your doctor would have you retest again after 6 months (although, a year would not be below the standard of care). Almost always, an HPV test is done at the same time as the PAP. Did you ask your doctor if an HPV test was done?
Joseph A. Adashek, MD FACOG
