I had been detected with high risk hpv virus 4 months back with the help of pap test which came abnormal.?

my doctor did a repeat pap test 2 weeks back after 3 months & it came normal.now she want to do cervical biopsy.i dont know why?can u tell me.whats it?what r the preparations for it.today is my 5th day of periods & my cervical biopsy is on 10 th day,is it ok?pls help what u think about my case

The pap smear test can only detect HPV virus (as well as abnormal lesions) but it cannot differentiate between the different strains of HPV virus (i.e. high risk Vs low risk). Several strains (such as type 18) are known to be at a higher risk for causing cancer of the cervix. But the exact strain of HPV virus can only be accurately assessed by cytogenetics. If you had a pap test that also included a "thin prep" test, i.e. an extra solution that you paid extra money for, then your doctor might have also requested a cytogenetic test upon that.

The National Health & Medical Research Council guidelines for pap smears in Australia are quite clear on the detection of HPV in a pap smear. A repeat smear is recommended after 12 months unless there is a coexisting intraepithelial neoplasia (abnormal cells) and/or prior history and/or the lady is over 30 years of age. HPV by itself does not by itself bring a recommendation for a biopsy.

Moreover, under the current NH&MRC guidelines, there is no recommendation for subtyping of the different strains of HPV i.e. the high risk Vs the low risk. Also, unless there was a recommendation for a colposcopy and biopsy from a pathology laboratory based upon an abnormality that has been recently detected on a sample taken from the patient, then it would be questionable upon what basis any gynaecologist would be electing to perform a biopsy.

If your past smear was normal AND it showed adequate sampling of the cervical cellular material AND it was sent to a NATA accredited pathology laboratory, then the official guidelines would recommend a repeat smear in 12 months because of the fact that you had a HPV detected within the past 12 months.

I would just see another doctor.
Are you sure its a biopsy? a biopsy is when they trip a bit of your cervix off for inspection. You may mean colposcopy something like that. ColposcopyThat just means she wants to inspect your cervix with a microspcope. Secondly if it was normal I dont see why she just didnt repeat you in the next 6 months to find out any changes. Normal is a good sign, that means the hpv may have cleared out of your cells for now. You need to question your doctor and read about the difference between biopsy and colposcopy, leep and others. Just google those. But yea your doc shouldnt want to go straight into biopsy, she should go to colposcopy next if anything at all..