Why many gynecologists do nothing about a PAP 3D
Imagine you are sitting in front of your gynecologist and have just found out that your annual cancer screening has revealed a precancerous stage. You are shocked by the diagnosis and can’t think straight at first. But you expect your doctor to take action now and suggest a treatment. And what does your gynaecologist say? “Wait and see, we’ll meet again in a few months and check”.
What do you think now? Do you feel left alone with the diagnosis, do you think that your doctor is letting you down or – in the worst case – perhaps has no plan at all for what to do next?
Even if it’s hard to believe: doing nothing is the best solution
If you have a PAP 3D, the right choice is to do nothing and wait a few months before checking again to see if the PAP 3D has changed. This is because PAP3D – i.e. altered cells on the cervix – firstly regresses in most women and secondly it takes some time for the altered cells on the cervix to heal. This means that the gynecologist is absolutely right.
Doctors who suggest immediate surgery are not doing the right thing!
Many gynaecologists bow to the pressure of anxious patients and suggest an early conization. This is not the appropriate treatment for PAP3D, nor should this surgical procedure be performed immediately.
Why is conization not the first choice for PAP 3D?
Well, there are several reasons that speak against conization for PAP 3D.
1. The medical guidelines only recommend conization for PAP 4 and above. For good reason: with a PAP4, healing is virtually impossible and the altered cells must be surgically removed.
This is not the case with a PAP 3D: the chances are still very good that this will resolve itself and the body will deal with the PAP3D on its own. In other words: with a PAP 3D, the decision is made whether it will go in one direction or the other. In other words: will the PAP 3D heal or not?
2. you should give your body this time to get the PAP 3D under control again and heal itself. Even if it takes longer. And don’t act too hastily. You certainly wouldn’t have a finger amputated just because you cut your finger and are afraid it could lead to blood poisoning, would you?
3. conization is a surgical procedure and – even if the procedure is as minor as possible – it carries certain risks. Especially if you still want to have children, you should think very carefully about whether you want to have a conization.
Why you should consider conization carefully if you want to have children
During a conization, tissue is removed from the cervix that contains altered cells: this is the PAP3D.
What initially sounds like a quick and relatively simple measure to get rid of PAP 3D is not always so simple in reality. Because always remember: the removed cells weaken the cervix and this can lead to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. The more tissue has been removed, the higher your risk of suffering a premature birth or even a miscarriage because the child can no longer be held as well.
4. conization is no guarantee that everything is really “done”: if not all the affected areas have been removed, it may be necessary to have another conization. And – if the human papillomavirus is still active in your body – the cells can change again and again, and after weeks, months or even years you may develop PAP3D again!
Four good reasons to take another look at yourself and refrain from conization too early.
Drink tea and just wait and see?
Of course, you don’t just have to drink tea and wait forever without knowing what’s in store for you. Fortunately, there is a laboratory test that can tell you where you’re heading. This test is called “L1 capsid protein detection” and is carried out on the cells taken by the gynaecologist during the smear test. You can easily find out whether you have the L1 capsid protein. If you do, this is good news, because it means that your immune system has taken up the fight against the HPV infection.
What’s more, your gynaecologist will check you regularly, so nothing much can happen while you wait.
What if you don’t have a self-healing protein?
Even if the L1 capsid protein can’t be detected, it’s not the end of the world. At least you have the relative certainty that your body is not doing anything and so you can do something before the infection progresses and causes even more damage to your body. Speak to your gynaecologist about the most appropriate steps or measures to take.
