Abnormal Pap and estogen Options

[menneme]

I've recently gone from my once a year pap, mammogram and physical to about 6 visits within the last month to various doctors scheduling tests, meds., and rude office workers/nurses.....after scanning this site and others, I think most of my problems must be hormones (or lack of)...........bladder biospy (negative), but retaining urine which could be causing problem? Complex cyst on right ovary discoverd during bladder CT (gyno "concerned" urology people don't always do these tests correctly?!)...however, gyno ultrasound did discover ovary. Also pap abnormal with low or mild LSIL. Will do copol test to see if anything.....can somebody give me info on low estrogen and LSIL problems please. Also, can somebody give me hormonal answers (LOADS of breast cancer in family, my mother died at age 58, her mother breast cancer in both, but lived to mid 90s (she was awesome) and now Aunt with cancer in both, but surviving. Also MRI done by ortho doc...he said pain in low back, hip and down leg "could" be a sign of cyst.....just wanted to give me meds....I don't want meds (or anything else to keep up with)..............almost 50 and post menopausal for 3 years now....
Can anybody give me any advice on ANY of this please? Thanks....so glad I've found site. Looks like many of us are in the same boat. Ahoy matey!!

[SandraSmith]

I *think* that progesterone is what they give to resolve cysts, and that should not be a problem for you. I think it will be short course of the stuff, not something you will take long term.

As for the LSIL ... I had a mild abnormal pap smear years ago, primary care physician decided to do punch biopsy, colposcopy, and cryotherapy, and when the drainage went on and on and on I went to the gyn who did my tubal ligation and he got mad at me ! He said he NEVER would have done all of those procedures, he would have done several more pap smears, waited, and watched, because sometimes abnormalities clear on their own (i.e., your body takes care of them). I'm not suggesting that you necessarily do nothing, but before you do anything invasive, get a second opinion, preferably from someone who is as conservative as that gyn I went to.

[menneme]

Thank you for the reply. I've since made another appointment with a female gyn. I want to speak with her about the hormones and I'm going to suggest waiting on the abnormal pap (not sure how she will react, since I'm the patient, but she can go along with it, or I can go somewhere else!)....I don't feel there is any major problem and certainly don't want any type of invasive just yet. I think I'm just all "dried" out!!

[SandraSmith]

I just want to clarify ... colposcopy itself is not invasive, but if the physician sees any suspicious areas she'll probably do a punch biopsy.

Here, I just found something on the 'net:

If this is the first pap smear showing LSIL, the recommendation is to repeat it again in six months. The LSIL lesion is a sign of dysplasia due to HPV infection, but it is mild and usually transient. ... If this is the second time that LSIL has appeared, it is recommended that the patient be referred for colposcopy for evaluation to see if a more severe lesion is not present. Persistence of LSIL can be due to just that - persistence, but it may also represent a more severe lesion, a progression of disease that is unrecognized in the second pap smear.

[menneme]

I just want to clarify ... colposcopy itself is not invasive, but if the physician sees any suspicious areas she'll probably do a punch biopsy.

Here, I just found something on the 'net:

If this is the first pap smear showing LSIL, the recommendation is to repeat it again in six months. The LSIL lesion is a sign of dysplasia due to HPV infection, but it is mild and usually transient. ... If this is the second time that LSIL has appeared, it is recommended that the patient be referred for colposcopy for evaluation to see if a more severe lesion is not present. Persistence of LSIL can be due to just that - persistence, but it may also represent a more severe lesion, a progression of disease that is unrecognized in the second pap smear.

Thanks for the repy and info....today I went for a 2nd opinion and guess what, a 2nd pap with nothing scheduled yet (waiting for results)....but what she did see right off the bat was my vulva looking white and atropic (if that's a word)...anyway, ask me about itching, etc. I really don't have too much of that, but she went ahead with biopsy. I had actually taken a mirror and looked at the area a couple of times prior to the visit. I, too had noticed the whiteness (or paleness as I called it. The vulva area looked dry, etc.) This female doctor was so caring, gentle, and reassuring. She also mentioned LS (google for good info on this one)....I think many of us (men and women can) for years and don't realize what it is. Doc also gave me vagifem cream and suggested no hormones for me because of major family history.

I do appreciate your info. Thank you. Menopause is much easier with access to the internet and sites such as this. Our mothers and grandmothers were just told whatever with not much support at all. Us women go through soooo much don't we?