Coping With Cervical Dysplasia

I’m 26 years old, turning 27 in early April, and I’ve just been diagnosed with dysplasia. Like most everyone I suppose, my first reaction was one of panic and disbelief. I’ve had Pap smears since the age of 16, when I started oral birth control pills because of horrible cramps from my periods. Every year, I never expected any problems, it was just something I had to have done so I could have my prescription renewed. This last one was different…

I had my pap end of January. Febuary 6th, I got a message from a friend staying with us, telling me I needed to call my doctor for some test results. Since I had just gotten blood work done as well, I thought, maybe I have anemia again, and have to start taking iron suppliments like before…

I called the doctor from work, and most of it is a blur. I remember the nurse telling me that it came back abnormal, and that it showed high risk of HPV More tests. I couldn’t even remember the name of the test she had told me. I was just numb. The only thing I could think of was, I want my mother, but she passed away a little more than a year ago. More than anything, I wanted to call her, go over to the house, have her tell me it’s okay, they can fix it, everything will be all better.

True, in college, I had other partners. Not many, at least not compared to some of the girls I knew. My husband, who I just married December 6th last year, had been in a long term relationship before me for 10 years, had a couple partners before her. Normal pattern for todays age. I had even been tested for HIV a while back, when a condom had broken with one of my boyfriends in college…I never thought about HPV…

I had my colpscopy Feb 23. My friend who is staying with us for a while had it done last year, so she came with me. My regular doctor doesn’t perform colpscopies, so they had me see another doctor in the same office. Male. That was just another for me to stress out over. Thankfully, he was wonderful. He gave me a prescription for valium, just to make me as comfortable as possible. Talked to me throughout the entire procedure, let me know it was okay. My friend was able to stay with me, holding my hand and petting my hair.

He told me they weren’t going to do any biopsies, because he could already see I have moderate to severe dysplasia. My LEEP procedure is scheduled for March 24. I am still nervous about it, but not as scared as I was before.

The best advice I can give is get your paps done every year. One year, mine was fine, the next, the dysplasia showed up. Do research. I found so much great information on the internet, and in so many places, it said, don’t panic, 50% of women have this, it’s okay to be worried, but everything is okay. Talk to friends, you would be amazed how many people you know have been through this. Not only had my roommate gone through this, some of my coworkers had, women I knew at church, in my apartment building…the more people you talk to who have been through it, the calmer you will be when you go in. And if you have a friend who can go with you, it makes a big difference!