Coping With Cervical Dysplasia

I was diagnosed with cervical displasia (low grade) at my very first pap smear when I was 17. I was also told I must have HPV which is what caused the ‘pre-cancer’. I began having pap smears every 6 months, some with biopsy, to monitor the displasia. One came back high grade when I was 20. I had cryo to freeze the first few layers of the cervix off…the procedure didn’t hurt, but I was so scared that I cried the whole time. Afterwards, I had 5 normal paps so thought I was cured!

On one of my semi-annual check ups (age 23), high grade cervical displasia was found (again)…so another preventative procedure (this time, laser) was preformed and I was once again back to normal paps! Next annual, high grade; next procedure…loop. This procedure actually lasted for 3 years of normal paps. So naturally, I thought I was in the home stretch.

Two weeks ago, my latest pap came back…high grade cervical displasia. Again. I am now 28. I have been fighting this for 11 years. My OBGYN and I are on a first name basis. So now I get to decide which procedure is at bat next.

How serious is this? High grade cervical displasia that comes back after cryo, laser, and loop procedures over an 11 year span. So hopefully this next procedure is ‘the one’. It is an ongoing battle.