Abnormal Pap Smear and Pregnancy

Updated on February 19, 2007
A.G. asks from Womelsdorf, PA
16 answers

Today I took a home pregnancy test and it came out positive. I was very excited, until I called my OB. The pap smear I had done in Janueary came back "slightly abnormal." The nurse told me they really can't do anything until I am through my first trimester. After that they talked of getting a closer look with a scope and possibly a biopsy. Should I allow such an abrasive procedure? Will it hurt the baby? I'm extremely concerned because I had a miscarriage 3 months ago, and I can't bear the thought of going through that again.
I would appreciate any advice and prayer. Thank you!

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S.G.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Congrats on the baby! But don't worry about the pap I had one with my first daughter. They did a biopsy of it in my 2nd trimester and everything was fine and nothing happened to the baby. Your dr will tell you all risks involved and they won't do it unless you say to. Good luck!

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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Don't get too worried just yet. I had an abnormal pap when I was pregnant & they did the colposcopy scope & didn't see enough abnormal cells to want to do a biopsy. Normally a doctor will not want to do a biopsy while you are pregnant unless it looks VERY serious. The risk are lower the further along you are. But, I'd ask to be monitored rather than biopsied until after the baby is born just to stay on the safe side. I hope that it is nothing serious & that your baby arrives safe & sound.

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H.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I had an abnormal pap that in hind sight (have to love when a dr. uses that after a biopsy) was due to yeast. Why not ask to have the pap repeated? If it is still abnormal, you can weigh your options for the biopsy in the second trimester. If it comes back fine, you could consider waiting until after the baby is born.
H.

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M.O.

answers from Lancaster on

Same thing happened to me. When I was pregnant with my first my pap came back a little abnormal. They did take a look with a special scope but did nothing else. After I had the baby - they did a LEEP procedure.

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C.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I had the same thing and the biopsy they just use a q tip and take very clean samples and retest and make sure your abnormality isn't cancer 9 out of 10 times it is not i just gave birth to my third child 5 months ago and my pap after the birth came back abnormal again so next month they will do it again and if that comes back abnormal i have to have another biopsy done but this time they will remove tissue....you will be in my prayers but don't stress it will be al right....

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M.G.

answers from Erie on

Hi A.,

I had a pap after I had my daughter and it came back slightly abnormal. See when the nurse called me to let me know she wasnt really clear about all of it and she mentioned the biopsy and the way she said everything it really scared me. I thought she was saying that i did have cancer and needed the biopsy. and she also mentioned hpv the std and had me freaked out by that because i have only been with one guy since i got pregnant with my child. but as it turned out when they took a closer look it was nothing. so i wouldnt sweat it. im sure if they take a closer look it will probably be nothing. good luck and you will be in my prayers.

M.

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H.

answers from Pittsburgh on

How long after your miscarriage did you have the abnormal pap? I don't know if it's the same as after giving birth, but you can get some inflamation on your pap results if you have one shortly after delivering. After my first child, the dr wanted to wait and do my annual pap at a later apt specifically for this reason - said 6 weeks isn't very long for healing and that paps can come back showing inflamation. After my second, the dr did my annual pap at my 6 week check up and it did in fact show some inflamation. I had a repeat at 6 months and it was fine. It was also fine 6 months later at my next annual. Now I'm back to only needing a yearly - except that I'm pregnant again and so that mixes everything up again! Anyways, just thinking about the timing - it seems like it's possible that your pap was around 6 weeks or so after your miscarriage - I would imagine there is at least some disruption to your cervics with that - especially if you had a D&C. You might check with your OB about how that impacts things. Good Luck

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J.B.

answers from Reading on

Hi A.,
I was in the same situation as you a few years back. They did take a closer look with a scope but waited until I wasn't pregnant to do the biopsy. I was told that you shouldn't have a biopsy done while pregnant but I would talk to your ob. I hope that eveything works out and congrats on the pregnancy!
Jen

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K.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

HI A.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET A ABNORMAL PAP SMEAR IF YOU HAD SEXUAL RELATION PRIOR TO YR VISIT,I KNOW I HAD RELATION PRIOR TO MY VISIT, THE PAP TEST CAME BACK ABNORMAL, THEY GAVE ME A CREAM TO USE FOR A MONTH AND NO RELATION DURING THAT TIME, WHEN I WENT BACK EVERYTHING CAME OUT NORMAL.

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J.

answers from Pittsburgh on

A. - My family will pray for you!
read everything to make an educated decision- if they don't think the abnormality will harm the baby - don't do it.

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L.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

I would certainly get an opinion or two from your OB/GYN office before doing anything about the pap results. Especially with your history of miscarriage, I wouldn't do anything intrusive during your pregnancy unless the problem is serious or absolutely necessary.

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K.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi
First I would find out how abnormal the cells are. There are varying levels. I had a colposcopy for the same reason. I would get a second opinion on the riskiness of doing the procedure while pregnant. I was told that since cervical cancer cells are one of the most slow growing, there was no reason to panic. I hope this helps some. You are in my prayers.

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K.B.

answers from Washington DC on

A.,
I JUST had "a closer look" done because of an abnormal pap smear also....I promise it is no big deal. I am 7mos. pregnant and had the same thing done (possible biopsy and all). I had it done a couple wks ago when I was 6mos. It took like 10min. AT THE MOST. I have a good doctor, he is quick and to the point. I was concerned about cancer. He said..you can tell by looking and after looking he said no about that. He also told me it was VERY common (like 1 in 10?I think he said)and he called the abnormalty a virus that usually goes away sometime after the baby is born. I do not think the "procedure" reaches the baby anyway? Please email me if you have ANY questions. ____@____.com
Also I will pray too....maybe it will go away before the 1st trimester! :)

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K.M.

answers from Austin on

i've just entered my fourth month of my first pregnancy and they called me yesterday to tell me about an "abnormal" pap smear and they said the won't biopsy anything 'til i have the kid. perhaps you can suggest that if it'll make you more comfortable. the nurse who called me yesterday and said that there are other things they can do to test for things, aside from biopsy. stress effects both you AND the baby, and so close to a miscarrage maybe it'd be best to keep everyone on an even keel. that's the direction i'm taking it. whatever's wrong with me doesn't need to be with the kid. personally, i'd rather get a c-section than risk anything at all. my mom had cervical cancer when i was born, and i was a c-section and everything went well. so, i dunno. i say do what you're most comfortable with.

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J.B.

answers from Scranton on

Abnormal paps are fairly common during pregnancy and shortly afterward. There's a possibility it could be either from the miscarriage or the current pregnancy, if you were already pg when you had the pap. On the other hand, it's something you'll want them to keep a close eye on.

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C.J.

answers from Harrisburg on

First off, I would love to say congrats on the pregnancy. Second, I would honestly not worry yet about the abnormal pap.It may have to do with your miscarriage that you had a few months ago.Third, I wouldnt allow the prodedure to be done while being pregnant.Let them look, but not touch.I have had abnormal paps all of my life, and I always worry about them coming back abnormal, but ever since I started having my OB use a broom effect to do my pap, they have come back fine.

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