r/PreCervicalCancer

tldr: they glued my vagina shut.

something so outrageous has happened to me, and I wanted to drop in here not to scare anyone but just to inform folks in case it happens to someone else!

i went in yesterday for my third colposcopy. i’ve had two others in the past, so going into this I felt prepared because I took half of a Xanax and some Tylenol. I was not prepared in the least. the doctor was kind, and very thorough in telling me exactly what she was doing. I was in a lot of pain but told her I just wanted to get it over with. I did almost faint at one point so we paused and they gave me an ice pack and the nurse let me hold her hand.

once it was over, they told me I did well and not to put anything in my vagina for a week or two, and informed me that the monsel’s would come out as a coffee ground texture. i’ve had this experience in the past, so I wasn’t too worried. however, once I got dressed and got into the car, I felt super weird. I could barely walk without pain, but I just went home and slept for 3 hours. when I woke up, I showered and realized that my vagina was essentially just…closed?

my first thought was that it was super swollen from the trauma of the event, but it felt like something was inside of me. it freaked me out enough that I had my boyfriend look and take photos, and then I called the doctor‘s office. their main concern was whether or not I could pee (I did shortly after the call) because if I couldn’t, i’d have to go to the ER. thankfully, I didn’t have to do that.

today, I woke up still feeling wrong. I still felt a fullness inside my vagina and couldn’t get a finger in even a little. I called again, and the nurse who answered told me to come back in and her vibe was very much like something wasn’t right. I was freaked out but was glad I could go back in.

when I got there, it was a different doctor who was able to see me (which was fine, she was also great). she took a look and informed me that my vagina had been glued together because the doctor performing the colpo had used too much monsel’s solution. you can imagine my face. I mean, they literally glued my vagina shut!!

my next question was: well…how do we get it back open? her response: manually. she lubed her fingers up and opened me back up. it hurt like hell at first, but then the pain subsided and I felt relieved. she used some saline solution to remove the excess monsel’s that had glued me together but left the monsel’s on my actual cervix in place, as to not cause a bunch of bleeding since it’s essentially a false scab.

I left feeling a lot better, but honestly very traumatized and violated. I keep saying “yeah, well, they glued my vagina shut” constantly. I can’t stop lol it’s just too crazy. the doc today was apologetic (it wasn’t her fault!) and really helpful and sat with me for a while to explain what happened. everyone i’ve told has been horrified.

basically, this is a post to just say: advocate for yourself. if something isn’t right, tell your doctor. in the US we already go through this procedure without any numbing or anesthesia. it’s already torture. speak up when you can! you know your body best.

I am very very new to Reddit and really have barely a clue how it works. I tried to find the rules but no luck.

I would love some insight.

I’m an almost 40 year old woman. I tested positive for HPV back in my teens and then a pre cancerous result on an exam (can’t remember if PAP or HPV test) in my very early 20s.

After that happened I had extremely intensely painful sec for 2-3 years. It was so bad, and so persistent at times I went to the hospital I was bleeding so severely. I ended up getting a laparoscopy done because the doctor thought there must be something wrong internally. That test was clear. After several years those pains and the bleeding tapered off. Any testing near my cervix for PAP was extremely painful for me.

I didn’t follow up on that whatsoever. The next PAP I had was when I was trying to conceive around 27 years old. It was clear and I remember saying “oh wow I don’t have HPV anymore?” And the doctor saying “I guess not! It goes away sometimes”. What I wish he’d said was, “you need a test for that specifically”.

After my daughter was born, I had another PAP, all clear. Again, I told that doctor I had HPV way back, and she shrugged it off. I had NO clue PAPs don’t test for HPV.

Fast forward to five months ago I saw a brochure in the mail for “at home cervical cancer test”. I ignored it threw it away. Another month later, same brochure. Ok, I’ll order it. I receive the kit and it sits for a month.

Finally, I take it thinking how stupid the whole process is. A few weeks later I get a call - you have HPV 18 we’re booking a colposcopy. How bad can this be? I go in thinking no way there’s a problem they won’t even do a biopsy I bet. Procedure absolutely sucked for me (sensitive cervix, tons of anxiety). I feel toms of pokes, what the hell is going on?

Four biopsies including whatever one goes inside the cervix, “I found something I don’t like.” Doctor says. It’ll be 6-8 weeks for results.

Don’t follow whatever timelines I gave above. I’m fairly certain I got those all wrong because I’m so stressed today. In any case, today, 1.5 weeks later I get a letter. They rushed the results because “high grade Squamish dysplasia extensive CIN 3 HGSIL”

They want to book a LEEP right away. Said nothing “in” the cervical canal thing ….. not sure what that means.

I guess I’m hoping for some insight here. I’m absolutely freaked out about the LEEP because of the pain other procedures have caused. I’m COVERED in tattoos, but I’ve had a lot of trauma around my cervix and it hurts so severely. I’m also scared of this whole freezing the cervix thing that causes an adrenaline rush. I have a heart valve issue where I can actually feel my heart struggle at certain times (skipping beats or tripping on itself), and that causes a TON of fear.

Has anyone gone through this before? What does all of this mean? Give it to me straight. I’m someone who can handle it and process. The more info I have the better ❤️

Hi all--I just got my first LEEP in the OR for two CIN 3 lesions, and I woke up to a sensation I was not expecting. I immediately felt a powerful burning sensation and urgency to urinate reminiscent of a UTI. Doc didn't seem overly concerned but maybe a bit surprised by my description, and one of the other doctors suggested a medication specifically for urinary pain. It has died down a good bit over the course of the day but it continues to be painful when I pee. I guess I'm just wondering if this is something anyone else has experienced? Thanks for reading!!

Hi All! I am 41 years old and just received an abnormal pap for the first time in my life. It was completely unexpected and needless to say I am freaking out! I had my pap on April 27 and the results were posted about a week later showing LSIL and "high risk HPV" (did not say a specific type). A nurse from my ob/gyn office called to schedule a colposcopy for May 27 (she really couldn't provide any other info) and I have been spiraling during this wait time. I have so many questions for my doctor but this is my biggest one - the first time I had unprotected sex in over 15 years was this past December 2025, is it unusual for LSIL to develop in only 4.5 months time? I've read so much information and some of it says it's very common and just a sign of active infection whereas others have said it would typically develop within a year. Also, is LSIL essentially the same thing as CIN1 or can you have a lower grade of CIN?

Thanks to everyone for contributing to this sub, I have read so many helpful posts and already got the vaccine, as well as ordered supplements and a cream from EU pharmacy while I am waiting to see my doctor!

Got my recent colposcopy results back, I have high risk HPV (non 16/18) and endocervical cin 3 lesions. I have a consultation for a LEEP procedure on June 1st which I am going to consent to. I'm a little freaked out even though I'm sure everything will be okay. i just want to give my body the best chance at getting through this but right now I'm working an unsustainable 50 hours a week (I work 4 days a week).

I really want to help my immune system clear the HPV by taking better care of myself and reducing my stress, but lately I don't have any time after work anymore to exercise, meditate, stretch, or make food. In the past I've taken intermittent FMLA to help recover from burnout. I know stress impacts the immune system and I'm already stressed so easily outside of this new health issue. I've struggled with my mental health all my life due to a dysfunctional upbringing, childhood SA, diagnosed level 1 autism, anxiety, depression.

I'm feeling that this is serious enough to reduce my work schedule back to 40 hrs. a week. That will give me time, energy and space to take care of myself the way I feel I need to. Still, I'm finding it really hard to validate myself on this. Do you think this is a serious enough condition to ask for this? Has anyone else reduced their work schedule to reduce their stress while fighting HPV? Did you ask your boss/supervisor directly or just do FMLA?

Dear friends, I had my LEEP done on 5/4 and just went in today 5/20 for my 2 weeks check up to see how things healed, my doctor gave me clearance on pelvic rest and I’m all healed up! She’s shocked that I healed fast, and I told her I have been taking hyaluronic acid supplements and it helped!! She said she can’t even tell what she did to me at all!!

Hi all! 1 week post LEEP, negative margins, pap and HPV test in 1 year, HPV positive but not genotypes 16 or 18

How many of you after a LEEP cleared your HPV infection at the point of your follow up? Trying to read some studies but I’m seeing 2-48% (quite a range) have a recurrence of dysplasia.

I wish there was a sure way to clear it, all I can think to do is be as healthy as I can be from now until then to support my immune system

I just received my LEEP results and I have positive margins.

After the LEEP the doctor was confident that he removed everything, but it looks like the results are different.

I am very confused about how extended the CIN3 is. At the colposcopy I was told there were 2 areas with affected cells (1 and 6) and now the biopsy after LEEP discovered CIN3 in 9 areas out of 12.

I just don't know what to expect anymore. Each time I am getting a worse result than what the doctors are telling me to expect.

How was your evolution after CIN3 with positive margins?

Here’s my timeline:

2014: pap showed LSIL. Had no idea what this meant and wasn’t given an hpv test. Dr said it’s nothing to worry about and we’ll monitor.

(I’ve gotten paps in between but don’t remember the results. I only remember my 2021/2022 pap)

2022: pap is normal, just have BV

Spring/summer 2024: pap shows ASCUS, HPV + HR other (not 16/18). At this point I’m being told to get a colposcopy (I was 31 and have never heard of a colposcopy. Decided I’m scared and don’t want one so I held off on it for a few more months lol.)

February 2025: decided the anxiety wasn’t worth it and scheduled a repeat pap. Pap shows LSIL. Had a follow up colpo a week later and 1 biopsy was taken from the ectocervix and an ecc was done. Dr at this time said it’s probably cin 1.

Colpo results: Cin 3, negative ecc

Dr says because it’s only on the outside we can proceed with cryosurgery. I have googled this up, down, left, and right and every suggested the fix for cin 3 is LEEP! She says I’m young and want kids and having a LEEP could affect that and isn’t necessary. So whatever, I go ahead with the cryosurgery.

March 2025: cryosurgery done

July 2025: follow up colposcopy. Dr says the site in which she froze looks fine but she sees another area that looks affected. Said it could look abnormal bc I just had cryo. She biopsies it and well… IT WAS ABNORMAL! CIN 2 HSIL. GAHHHH

July 2025: Right after these results I start doing the supplements. Dr suggested follow up cryo but I was like na screw that and her lol. I’ve watched YouTube videos and read all these different research papers and suggestions from the people of Reddit. I began to take:
3g AHCC
3 g Turkey Tail
Methyl folate 1000 mcg
I do this ALMOST EVERY DAY (I have deff missed some days since July last year up until now but not many!)

May 2026: I’m way overdue for a follow up pap and said SCREW IT LETS GO! I go for my Pap smear and results come back ASCUS NEGATIVE HPV!! At this point I’m freaking screaming cuz omg YAYYY! No hpv, however ASCUS can mean anything. That’s not necessarily a normal pap result. I get a follow up colposcopy a week later.

May 2026 still: colpo is being conducted and the dr (a new dr, I couldn’t trust my old one anymore idk lol) takes 3 biopsies at 1/3/5 o clock positions and an ecc. Her exact words were “it looks severely abnormal….” So now I’m like ok well should we just schedule the LEEP now at this point bc it sounds like this is gonna be bad lol.

Results of colpo that I received via QUEST today (haven’t spoken to dr yet):

CERVICAL MUCOSA AT TRANSFORMATION ZONE WITH NO
DIAGNOSTIC ABNORMALITY
BENIGN ENDOCERVICAL TISSUE. NEGATIVE FOR HPV EFFECT OR DYSPLASIA.

YALL I DONT HAVE THE PRECANCER ANYMORE (hopefully) and IM HPV NEGATIVE (allegedly. My trust for these cervical cancers screenings are dwindling as I read the worst reddit story posts lol)

Anyways, I’m really relieved. Idk if the AHCC, turkey tail, methyl folate cocktail was the reason for my reversal. I am 33 now and I know it’s harder for us old folk to clear these persistent infections so I will be continuing the overpriced supplements regardless. I hope to stay negative! 

Will update if anything changes!

So I just had my colposcopy on Friday and my results are already in my chart. Its showing CIN 2 at 12, 3, & 6 o'clock biopsies & also endocervical canal as well. I'm freaking out!! I'm 40, don't want anymore kids, and wish they would just do a hysterectomy! I don't need those parts anymore! If my cervix is gone the I won't have to worry about cervical cancer!!! But I don't think they will do that.... I have read on the LEEP procedure & the cone biopsy..... I feel that the cone biopsy would be most accurate on getting all the margins.... so if they won't give a hysterectomy the I want the cone biopsy..... has anyone had this happen having this many area of precancer areas????????

I am waiting results from a colposcopy and I have been a mess since having it.

My smear results showed the worse result indicating cancer and high grade changes.

The consultant I saw was cold, hostile and not friendly at all. The experience was horrible. Literally no compassion at all from either the consultant or the nurse. This is in the UK and under the NHS.

From the results he said he was going to perform a Leep but on looking at everything he changed his mind and just scraped some cells off. I don't think he even took a punch biopsy - he didn't say he did one and I didn't feel anything. The speculum hurt though.

The only thing he queried was whether I had had an emergency C-section - I am 4 months post partum.

He then just said that the results were marked as urgent and let me go. Just said if I bled a lot I was to go to a&e.

All of it has left me an absolute mess. The mention of cancer on the pap, and him stating it to me left me feeling like the only result could be cancer and probably a late stage at that. I have barely slept or ate and spending my time doom scrolling on Google making everything seem worse.

I happened to put my results into ai mode on Google with all other medical things that have been going on - being 4 months post partum, having a big ectropion, having a polyp in pregnancy and the spotting stopping after taking the mini pill and the information it stated was actual reassuring and not anything like I have read anywhere else. It also stated that if there was a tumour or anything sinister looking the consultant has to tell you - obviously that didn't happen!

How much can you trust what it says?

As much as it's nice to read things that don't suggest dying or full blown cancer, I am worried that I have taken comfort in literature that is false!

I will hopefully have my results back this week but it is torture waiting.

Anyone else had really scary results postpartum?

Had my Leep yesterday. The build up to the appointment was much worse than the actual procedure. I felt nothing. I had one 10 years ago that was traumatic so this was a breeze compared! Ask me anything.

I am at a loss. I’m hoping someone can relate & tell me what’s wrong & that this can be fixed. My mental health is at a low right now because of this.

I (33) had a CKC at the end of August last year. It was successful with no complications. No further traces of CIN 3 were found. I used estradiol as prescribed and waited the appropriate amount of time before having sex (7 weeks).

Something hasn’t felt right since then. It feels like my boyfriend is hitting my cervix in even the most basic position & sometimes it’s a lot of pain at once, other times it’s not too bad but then it feels like my cervix is bruised later. This is super vanilla, missionary sex. We can’t try from behind because it’s too painful. We’ve been together for a couple of years & while there’s the normal pain if we’re too rough & whatnot, this is not normal. I’ve been with guys bigger than him in years past & didn’t have these issues.

It has gotten to the point where I’m bracing for pain right away & we can’t have sex because my boyfriend is worried he’s hurting me. I’ve also lost my sex drive, which could be stress related to this or unrelated.

I saw my doctor last week. Having the speculum inserted has never been great but this didn’t bother me. However the moment she touched my cervix, I was in horrible pain. This pain was worse than having a colposcopy. I was in tears the entire time & she seemed surprised I was in so much pain. She found a polyp on my cervix & said she would take a sample along with checking for any infections that could be causing the pain. I didn’t think she removed the polyp but the results today mentioned they did. I’m hoping that’s the case otherwise I don’t think I could let them do it without being sedated.

They said my labs are normal & I have no infection. The labs were checking hormones for the lack of sex drive & while my results were on the very low end, they were within normal range.

Has anyone had a polyp where it caused this much pain? I’m worried removing it didn’t fix the issue with cervical pain. I tried looking it up & while it can cause painful sex, most people reported it was painless to remove but I was in SO much pain.

Has anyone had cervical pain months after their CKC? I have a follow up appointment next week & I’m so stressed that this will be brushed off because everything came back normal. I’m losing hair too, no balding but there’s so much hair shed. Every test shows I’m normal so maybe I’m just that stressed. I don’t know what else to do.

I posted a little while ago about my colposcopy biopsy that I'd had and was waiting on results.

They came back as CIN1 from the biopsy but the repeat papsmear they did during it came back high grade from inside the cervix.

I have my LEEP still booked in for mid July, but they said I could wait 6 months and do a repeat colposcopy and see if things have cleared up by then and get the LEEP then if things haven't.

They said there could be risks with cervical length if I did the procedure, and with my age (29) and possibility of kids in the future they said to keep it in mind.

I understand all that and I took a little bit of time to discuss it with a few people I'm close to and they suggested it would be better to get it done first up regardless, and see what happens with my repeat colposcopy when it's due. Get a clearer picture of things from there.

I was hoping to get a few insights and maybe some stories about how your recoveries went and what the healing process was like. Any extra precautions you took exercise wise, food, intimacy.

It's quite a lot to think about considering I've never had anything like this done and I'm going in somewhat blindly.

My boyfriend has been very supportive through all of this too and he is doing his best to understand it all just as I am.

I am 30 years old and single.
Last year I experienced post coital bleeding and initially i dismissed it as I had just become sexually active. However, when it didn’t stop after a few times, I went to the gynac and she found a polyp on my cervix. After this I got a hysteroscopy and polypectomy done- they removed a polyp from my cervix and two small ones from my uterus. The one on my cervix when sent to biopsy came back with displaysia. Then I got tested for hpv and it came back positive for hpv 16. This was surprising because i had only just become sexually active and always used protection. I then got a colposcopy which showed CIN 1 changes. The doctor advised me to take two doses of the gardasil 9 and focus on my health and comeback for follow up in a year. This April, I went back for follow up- the hpv test came back positive again- this time finding additional high risk strains. This was devastating because in the past year I had quit smoking, was taking iron and vitamin d supplements , and was also celibate apart from some safe sexual encounters. My doctor suggested another colposcopy which showed CIN 1 again though the doctor said visually my cervix looked better than before. She is suggesting that I wait another year before following up. However another gynac is suggesting leep procedure, because I now have multiple hr hpv strains. I know that LEEP is not usually recommended for cin1 so I don’t want to rush into it, but this whole year has also been extremely anxiety inducing and I’d rather just get done with all this.

Plus, since the past month, I’ve been having intermittent pain and ache on the left side of my vulva and vagina. Lately tampon use and even the speculum insertions for the tests has been more painful. Plus after this colpo I developed a boil on my left labia and had to take antibiotics. All of this is just adding to my anxiety that the hpv is creating changes to my vulva and vagina as well but the doctor is just dismissing these things.

I’m hoping to hear any experiences that people have had that are similar. Have you gotten leep with just cin 1? And is there a way I can ask a doctor to test my vagina and vulva for changes as well?

I’m so confused, there’s so much info out there about what could be normal, and my doctor hasn’t really mentioned anything about a specific pattern, she just really emphasised to take it easy for 4 to 6 weeks. This is my timeline
Day 0- LEEP
day 1-5 light spotting / coffee grounds
Day 6-11 period (normal)
Day 12 onwards very light pink spotting… but then:
Day 16: 4 hours of gushing bright red blood like an open tap, one big clot , and all bleeding stopped
After that no bleeding and even no spotting for few days
Day 21: bleeding again, but thick dark red blood- looks like my period blood but heavier flow. Few small clots. It’s not my period cos I just ovulated

Is this normal?? What was your bleeding pattern like?

I feel so discouraged especially after a dry few days to bleed again. I miss exercising and yoga and just feeling strong again.

I'm 60 and had my cone on Friday morning around 9 am after a colposcopy showed pre cancerous cells. Been HPV positive for decades. I had general anesthesia and was home before noon. So far, I've been a bit tired, bloated like I'm 6 months pregnant, but very little spotting and my cramps really only ramp up when I try to do too much. Using a heat pad. No gym until I clear the 2 week follow up but I a back to work on day 3 in my remote role. Just waiting now for the biopsy results. My biggest concern was (TMI) managing a number 2 because I ended up with stitches in my rectal area during surgery but laxatives have been my friend. I don't know what to expect but it feels somewhat manageable.

im a week after leep& the smell is so bad when ever im on the toilet sometimes smells through my pants. please tell me this goes away 😭

Took like 10 minutes and we were done. Didn’t feel any pain and when we were done I was shock. Was waiting to scream or something but nothing like that happened.

Was Diagnosed with HSIL - CIN2-3.

If you are currently panicking like I did I will say, go for the Leep procedure. I kept asking myself why I was panicking before.

If you have done a colposcopy and biopsy, the leep procedure experience is way easier.

I took paracetamol 1 hour to my procedure- this might have helped me too.

I also had my AirPod on and played music while the procedure was going on. The nurse did try to distract me, when they wanted to put the local anaesthesia, telling me to breathe in and out which helped because I didn’t feel anything.

The only uncomfortable thing was the speculum which is normal when something is entering your vagina but the moment they started didn’t feel anything anymore.

She also showed me the paste like thing she was going to apply and told me it might fall off at some point and I shouldn’t panic if I see it.

Nothing inside the vagina for 6 weeks. She said I will see a little spotting for now and might see fresh blood in 2 weeks. If any weird thing happens I can reach out back.

Looking forward to the healing journey (6weeks) and I hope it goes smoothly.