YOUNG-WOMEN Messages for March, 2001: Re: more questions, maybe clearer

Re: more questions, maybe clearer

From: William McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 27 Mar 2001 08:28:06 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: dez: "more questions, maybe clearer"

At Mon, 26 Mar 2001, dez wrote: >
>i wrote an email a couple of days ago looking for the answer to specific
>questions, but may not have been clear enough.my questions are:
>if a doctor proceeds take a biopsy from you (cervi) after viewing with a
>colposcopy, does that mean that they found evidence of abnormalities? if
>so when the test came back. what does it mean if the doctor wants you
>to come back in 3 months? does that mean there are no abnormalities
>found?

Different doctors will do slightly different things, but a biopsy typically means that there was some suggestion that the area biopsied was not entirely normal, but it does not necessarily mean that there were severe abnormalities. After a benign colpo and biopsy, or when the results show only mild dysplasia, the usual followup is to see the patient every 3-4 months for a year. You have HPV beyond any reasonable doubt, but that does not mean that it is active at any one particular time. HPV typing is fraught with inconsistencies. There are high risk types (more likely to cause cancer) and low risk types (less likely to cause cancer), but any type can cause warts, and any type can cause cancer. It is like breeds of dog. Some are attack dogs, and some are lap dogs, but any dog can bite you.

--
William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG

This is for educational purposes only, and is neither designed nor intended to replace consultation with and examination by a licensed medical professional.

Please, no private e-mails.  I will not be able to answer them.

Next message: amanda: "Re: Can someone answer my question??? abnormal pap"
Previous message: William McIntosh, MD: "Re: Lower Abdominal Pain"
In reply to: dez: "more questions, maybe clearer"

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