Dear Dr. Northrup,
My 27-year-old daughter has had abnormal Pap smears. In all, there were three tests, six months apart, with mild abnormalities. Two biopsies revealed that there were no cancerous or pre-cancerous cells. If the Pap smears remain abnormal, should she continue to have biopsies each time, as her doctor suggests?
Thanks – G.E.
Dear G.E.,
Your daughter’s problem is very, very common. Here’s the good news: Mild cervical dysplasia (abnormal cells) goes away on its own 50% of the time. That means that the body’s natural immunity takes care of the problem. But to speed things along, I recommend that she get her vitamin D level to an optimal level of 40-100 ng/ml, which may mean as much as 5,000 IU of vitamin D per day for a month or more. She also needs a good pharmaceutical grade antioxidant supplement program. Smoking is known to cause abnormal pap smears. So if she’s a smoker, she needs to stop.
Getting biopsies is very stressful. I’d opt for trusting the body’s ability to heal (assuming that she’s a non-smoker and isn’t on any drugs that depress immunity, e.g., a steroid like prednisone). That means giving an improved nutritional program a full six months to work. I’m willing to bet that the abnormal pap smears go away, if she follows my advice.
Note that there is a comprehensive Pelvic Health program in the new Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. I recommend that you read that as well for additional information!
Keep me posted – C.N.
Has anyone had this happen? I was told about abnormal test results for a Pap smear ten months after I had gotten a Pap smear. I’m now going in after a colposcopy to sit down and get results. The doctor said something about a possible surgery? I’m trying to figure out my next course of action in regards to the pelvic pain. I feel like whatever it is could resolve on its own. I’ve had some spotting and sharp pain in my pelvic region recently since the colposcopy but no fever/infection. I’ve looked up nutritional stuff. I was given Levofloxacin for possible infection. Any other recommendations?
Hi,
do you believe in doing a biopsy of a nodule that was benign in 2012 and has grown a bit?
Did an utrasound March 9th waited did another April 9th has decreased a tinnny bit!
I am 61 and was dx. as HPV +. I have had 2 paps with CIN 1 and the lastest one is CIN2. I have had 3 colposcopys that have been OK. MY gyn is now asking me if I want to wait 6 months for another pap/colp or have a LEEP. I don’t know what to do.
I had a pap smear 3 weeks ago. Last week I had a in-office biopsy because the pap had “mild-moderate abnormal” cells. My Ob-Gyn explained the degrees of abnormalities stating a “severe” stage could be cancersous. Well, today, 6-30-2015, she called and said that this biopsy showed “moderate” abnormalities and was more precise than a pap. But to make sure there’s no cancer I need a cone biopsy. I feel like she’s not being completely transparent…and her ultimate goal is a hysterectomy. Please help me…is this procedure really necessary or do I need a second opinon and how would I get it?
I have more information: My pap smear was CIN 1, the in-office biopsy was CIN 2 – CIN 3. My Ob-Gyn wants to do a cone biopsy because of the results of the first biopsy. I’m reluctant because I don’t want to invite cancer into my body by having this invasive procedure.
If one has had “normal” pap smears for at least 10 years is there a need to continue to have them done annually when they are excruciatingly painful—-my MD says no—-true or false? Thanks
So glad I saw this on your website. I am sick of my OBGYN “sticking to the book” and giving me coploscopy after coploscopy for low-grade/mild dysplasia. Each time the results come back negative. But each time I get an abnormal PAP, they want to scare me into having this procedure immediately. It’s frustrating and annoying.