Had My Colpo And Doc Took 6 Biopsies! Normal?

Okay so I'm starting this frustrating emotional rollercoaster that I don't wish on anybody! I'd love some feedback from people who have been through this. 6 years ago I had an abnormal pap that came back low grade and HPV. They did a colpo/biopsy but no further treatment was required since the biopsy got it all and I had three normal paps after that.  Now however after neglecting my pap for 3 years (I know, I know but we had no insurance and previous doc told me not to be worried since I'd had normal ones in a row) my pap just came back high grade abnormal. So I had another colposcopy today and the doctor took SIX different biopsies!  Is that normal to take so many? Is this worse than usual? Or does it just depend on the amount of abnormal areas they see?  I am very concerned now! Are there ever areas that nook abnormal but turn out through biopsy to actually be normal?

 The doctor pretty much presented LEEP as the only option regardless of what the biopsies show. She said she would do the LEEP even if the biopsies came back totally normal. I'm not sure that sounds right to me since it's easy to take tissue out but you can't put it back. I don't know if she's a little LEEP hasty or if she's not being straight with me or...  I'm only 23 married with two little ones and we were trying to get pregnant agian when this nightmare was discovered; So I am very very hesitant to do something that potentially affects future childbearing unless I'm convinced it's necessary.  She told me that it wasn't cancer yet but as I've been reading there's really no way for her to know that until she's seen the biopsy results correct?   I'm definatley concerned that seeing how she took 6 different biopsies if she has to LEEP all of those there really isn't going to be a cervix left. Am I exaggerating this in my mind? If thats the case and it's necessary then fine but if it's going to be that extensive then then risks of future problems seems much much greater than the "no big deal" 1-3% she quoted me.  Aren't the risks of future problems directly correlated to how much they take out?

Okay I'm sorry for rambling this is so incredibly stressful my heart goes out to anyone who is also faced with this.  If anybody can ease my mind or elaborate on any of this with their experiences or what they've learned I would be so grateful.  Thanks again for your replys,  Kjersti

I'm sorry you are going through this. I don't how extensive the abnormal area is, so I can't tell you how many biopsies you should have had done. Personally, I'd want as many biopsies as necessary for better accuracy. However, before you let your doctor do anything, she needs to show you the lab results when they come back and discuss it in great detail with you so that you know what kind of dysplasia you have and how extensive it is. Then she should discuss the risks and benefits of all four methods of partial amputation with you because they each have them. That way you can make an informed decision. That's the key word: informed.

If she won't show you the lab results and keeps pushing one method of partial amputation on you without a thorough discussion, get another doctor. You need to know exactly what is happening and you need to know all your options.

I'm disconcerted that any doctor would tell you it was okay to skip yearly PAP smears. I would have fired that doctor and hired a new one who took my health more seriously. When I didn't have health insurance, I went to a free city clinic.