Recurrent Dysplasia

Hi! I was hoping someone could help me out with this. I recently had my 5th abnormal pap in almost 2 years. I had my first LEEP in Dec '06, and then in July of '07, I had severe dysplasia, and I had another LEEP done. Well, my follow up in October came back with ASCUS, and my next follow up last week came back with low grade lesions. I was wondering if anyone else had this happen? I've had 2 leeps, 2 biopsies, and I am about to have my third, which will probably lead to a leep. I just don't know why it won't go away. I'm 21, and I want kids, and these leeps are making me afraid I won't be able to have kids one day.

I think this type of situation is happening to a lot of women our age.  (I am 26)  Unfortunately, with any virus, there isn't anything you can do to get rid of it or "kill it."  It'll simply hang around, in some people causing problems, in others nothing.  I've had 2 colposcopies and one LEEP.  I go for my first PAP follow-up after my LEEP next month.  This may be a life long struggle, it might not.  I don't think anyone can give you a straight forward answer to your questions other than Yes, this is happening to a lot of us.  And as for fertility, the cone biopsy is alot more worrysome that the LEEP.  In a cone, they take a large part of the cervix which can make it more difficult for a woman to carry her baby to term.  The LEEP usually only removes small pieces (even just surface cells) on the cervix.  I hope this helps a little.

Did you look at the lab results with yoru doctor? If you only had mild dysplasia, why did you get another LEEP when it can clear up by itself? Were the margins clear? I'm a little concerned about two things: The LEEP may have missed something, or your doctor is overusing that electric knife. You may want to consider getting a different doctor and another biopsy to be absolutely sure you need further LEEP's. Or you may want to consider a different procedure. There are three others. But if your doctor is not going over of this with you, I'd be mistrustful.

 

On 2/27/2008 herenow wrote:

Did you look at the lab results with yoru doctor? If you only had mild dysplasia, why did you get another LEEP when it can clear up by itself? Were the margins clear? I'm a little concerned about two things: The LEEP may have missed something, or your doctor is overusing that electric knife. You may want to consider getting a different doctor and another biopsy to be absolutely sure you need further LEEP's. Or you may want to consider a different procedure. There are three others. But if your doctor is not going over of this with you, I'd be mistrustful.

I actually ended up going to a specialist. He said that the results showed LGSIL and that he didn't feel the need to do a biopsy just yet. I am going back in April for another follow up, and then will decide what to do. It just drives me insane that my one doctor wanted to biopsy RIGHT away, and when I asked for something to calm me down before it, she gave me a hard time. I know biopsies aren't horrible, but since I've had 2 in the past year, I remember the pain, and if I can avoid being freaked out, why not? Soo I dumped her and now am going to someone else.

 

I have also had recurrent dysplasia, 5 times now. I found out I had it in October 2006 and it was severe. I had a biopsy and then the cone procedure done. In February 2007 it had come back. I had another biopsy that came back mild and then I had the laser procedure done. In June 2007 after another biopsy i found out that I had moderate dysplasia and this time I had the LEEP procedure done. Four months later in October 2007 It came back. The biopsy showed that it was mild and I had the cryo done. Last week I went back for my re-pap and I found out yesterday that it is back once again. I see the doctor Tuesday to do a biopsy and discuss my options post biopsy. I am only 24 and I want to have children someday. I am very worried that I will not be able to carry a baby to term. My husband and I have decided that after this procedure it done that we are going to try to get pregnant. I just wish that this would stop. I am so tired of dealing with this. What makes it even harder is hearing other womens stories about how easily their dysplasia was cleared up.

Rdhd1, what a nightmare! Has your doctor shown you the lab reports each time?

Lori4367, I'm glad you found another doctor. I had to do the same thing. My first doctor called and said I had mild dysplasia with one focal point that was CIN II. She said I needed a LEEP within the next two weeks. I asked her about the other options, and she not only refused to discuss them with me, but she continued to bully me into LEEP with scare tactics. She also did not show me the lab report. In addition, she was openly annoyed I needed anesthesia to go through with the procedure. Then the day before the LEEP, I learned she was planning to do a LEEP/cone biopsy without a discussion and without getting approval! I fired her and found a different doctor, who did show me the lab report and said I only needed a simple LEEP, should I choose not to wait to see if the dysplasia would clear up. I still have that doctor. I made one big mistake: When I read about the other methods for partial amputation, I forgot to pay attention to potential risks. LEEP has the highest risk of infection, and I ended up with two months of discharge followed by an infection. I also had difficulty sitting comfortably for three months. If you put a gun to my head, I still wouldn't choose LEEP, again. For the kind of dysplasia I had and the fact my wounds take a long time to heal and are vulnerable to infection, laser would have been a better option for me.

But this is why I encourage women to be careful when their doctors won't show them the lab results and won't discuss all options. It's your body, and you are the best advocate for it.

I know exactly how you feel

I'm 26 and I've had CIN III 3 times now in less then a year and a half.

I've had laser treatment (Aug 2006),LEEP (July 2007) and now probably another LEEP, I can't even count how many times I've had biopsies probably over 10 times. I'm stressed out beyond belief. I have also been in pain down there just really sore. Though my doc says it ha nothing to do with it.

Though I will share a conversation I had with my family doctor when he got the last results back. He wanted to clarify really what would happen if I chose to have a child. He said one of two things COULD happen (unlikely chances are less than 20%) that could affect my fertility. One the cervix could lose its elasticity and seize up and build up of scar tissue from treatments and I would have to have a c-section. He also said very very very rarely the cervix can inhibit the sperm from getting past the cervix because of the scar tissue getting in the way. He said it is so rare though. The other thing that "could" happen is the the  cervix becomes weak from damage and possibility of miscarriage but this can be easily fixed by placing a stitch in the cervix at the beginning of conception and removed after 4 months or so. My doctor said that my gyno/specialist would know exactly what I would be more of a risk of. He reassured me that if I did want kids I would likely have no problems even with all my treatments and if I did it could be dealt with.

The Gyno who had done the biopsy recommended another LEEP with the latest results. Since I stated I just want this over with my doc is recommending back to the gyno that I should have a cone biopsy since it has the lowest rate of reoccurence and honestly I just want this over with.  My doc did warn that a cone does make the cervix very weak and I williprobably need a stitch in my cervix when I concieve but it won't be a problem.

Hope this helps everyone.. I still have to talk to my gyno about this. 

This is just so stressful and scary. 

Hi. I was just wondering if anyone has tried to get pregnant after several treatments. I am about to have my second LEEP and am scared of the side affects. I tried to get pregnant in between the procedures. Not knowing that I would have to undergo another biopsy and subsequent LEEP and now am scared that the reason I didn't get pregnant was beacuse of other underlying problems or the procedures themselves. I'm still pretty young and not in a real hurry to have kids but would still like to know. Has anyone tried to talk to their doctors about this?