ok so after doing a bit more research...... DEFINITELY NOT getting the vaccine! i am 26 so i think im a bit out of the age bracket anyway. my hubby and i have been together for nearly 5 yrs and we have been monogamous the entire time. i know that it can lay dormant for a while and show up later but the good thing is that we wont be reinfected again because we will both clear it up. my question is, why do we have to get the colposcopy if we are under 30 and it goes away on its on anyways? doesnt that make it over kill? also, i read that some birth controls can INCREASE the risk of cervical cancer! WHAT?!?!?! i took yaz last and i will never do it again! my doctor didnt tell me all the crap that was being said about it. i DID expirience some irregular heart beats with it but thank GOD no blood clots. also, the new birth control i am supposed to be started when my period arrives has a warning IN THE DANG INSTRUCTIONS!!!!, that it can increase the risk of cervical cancer! are they TRYING to make us sick?!?! its terrible....... thank you ladies for sharing your stories and words of encouragement! it is greatly appreciated! :)

for me, the colposcopy was not related to the HPV, it was related to abnormal cells found in the pap smear itself. the abnormal cells have the potential to become pre-cancer cells and the biopsy is to determine the risk of that possibility. the abnormal cells can be caused by the HPV, or without it. the second round of colposcopies and rechecks i had were simply because of an abnormal pap, no HPV.

threenorns - Close! I'm a Lewis Carroll fan. CS Lewis is responsible for Narnia; Lewis Carroll is responsible for Wonderland. Good observation, nonetheless.

And I was on Yaz the year before last, as well... could that have caused my abnormal pap this year?

Exactly, just because you are UNDER 30 doesn't mean you CAN'T cancer. A pap test looks at the surf of things, and colpscopy looks deeper into the situation to make sure there isn't anything extermely wrong that the pap test missed. Cancer doesn't discriminate against age...Also birth control COULD cause cervical cancer birth control COULD also cause lots of problems, but that's a given fact if you do the research. Thats a given fact with ANYthing you put in your body any type of medication. There COULD be side affects, some minor some dangerous. I don't take birth control anymore given the research I've done on it, it's not worth it and I haven't gotten knocked up ever or accidently so I'm really not worried. lol

I had to have cryosurgery (freezing off abnormal cells) after having an abnormal pap and biopsy.That was 18 years ago when I was 21...and every pap since then has been fine.

Also,if I had a daughter(though they are considering it for boys too),I would never allow my child to get the vaccine for HPV.I think they need to do a lot more testing and making sure it is as safe as can be.Also,I think it may give people a false sense of comfort in that they don't have to then worry about hpv and cancer.

LOL - i do that a lot. i'm famous for saying things like "oh - yeah, that's right! she moved to Kingston! ... or Kitchener. one of those K places, anyway" (Kingston and Kitchener being, like, opposite sides of Ontario)

that's what's happening - ppl are getting the vaccine and figuring they're bullet-proof so they don't get their pap tests done because they're "immune" from cervical cancer.

I had it done in my early 20's. I was totally fine. I did have to have some cells removed afterward with the cryotherapy but that's it.

Women under age 30 should never be tested for HPV.

That being said, colposcopy is standard for LGSIL. Listen to the women here who've had it done -- it's not fun, but you'll survive, I promise. :) Think of HPV as the "common cold" of the cervix. Lots of people have it, and most women under 30 will clear it on their own.

.... thank you for the new mental image of blowing my nose.

Well I always learned in school that the cervix has the same consistency as the tip of your nose... :D

oh i am VERY well aware that cancer can happen before 30 but i remember reading an article about how some researchers think that the HPV test shouldnt be done before 30 because it is so common. my result was LGSIL and i talked to my gyno and i am going for the colposcopy just dont know when yet. they are still trying to get insurance to verify the procedure. i do believe the vaccine is about useless because everytime you get a new partner you would have to get it again (or at least thats how i understand it) as well as seeing how bad the side effects can be! also my husband and i have decided not to go on birth control again.

Every major clinical guideline recommends against HPV testing in women under 30. Again, common cold of the cervix, too many positives that will clear on their own. But with the LGSIL, you need the colpo anyway. Insurance should cover it no problem, but let your doc's office work that out -- they're better at it and less work/stress for you! Hopefully a one time deal to get rid of the bad cells and leave you with a nice, healthy cervix.

And no, you only need the HPV series once. I don't trust anecdotal Internet reports, but I respect anyone who does her own research and the decisions she makes.

Just as an FYI. I'm 47. I've been with one partner for the last 27 years. My HPV decided to morph into pre-cancer a few years ago. It can lie dormant for DECADES. Yes, it's a common virus. Please don't believe you can pick it up walking by the pool or that HPV doesn't cause cancer. Make your own choices, but please please please get your information from REAL medical sources.