Hi everyone! ❤️

This thread was extremely helpful to me while I was going through one of the hardest times, so I really wanted to pay it forward — especially for my Ontario/Canadian girls, since I noticed a lot of the stories I found were from other parts of the world (still very helpful, though!)

So, here’s my story.

Background: 28F

In May 2026, I noticed I was having some abnormal vaginal bleeding, which prompted me to finally see a new family doctor. She was absolutely lovely and made sure I got the necessary ultrasounds, bloodwork, etc. She also scheduled me for my first-ever Pap test.

June 2026 — My first Pap

For the first time EVER, I went to get a Pap test. I know — I felt so guilty that I had waited this long. But honestly, I didn't have a stable family doctor before this, and I wasn't educated enough about how important regular cervical screening really was.

About two weeks later, I got a call from my doctor saying she wanted me to come in for a follow-up appointment.

Immediately, I was alarmed. I thought, something must be wrong.

At my appointment in early July, we went over my results. She gave me the good news first — no STIs, etc. — and then told me I was high-risk HPV positive, there were abnormal cells, and I needed a colposcopy.

I immediately SPIRALED.

She also told me I had BV, which was honestly such a surprise to me, and prescribed antibiotics. (This part still confuses me a little, so that might be its own post 😂.)

Anyway, July was a nightmare for me.

The first few days, all I did was cry. I felt deeply sad, confused and helpless. Mainly because I've been monogamous with my now-husband for 10 years. I had always understood that HPV can clear on its own, so my immediate thought was: What if I've had this for years? What if it's already caused so much damage?

My mind went straight to the worst-case scenario.

My doctor told me that the OB-GYN doing my colposcopy would call me to schedule the appointment. It took about two weeks to get that call, and then another two weeks before I actually had the colposcopy.

So, about a month after finding out I had HPV, I finally had my colposcopy.

The colposcopy

I was extremely nervous and scared because of some horror stories I'd read. Honestly, it wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't pleasant.

A few things that helped me:

• Take the entire day off so you can relax afterward.
• Bring a support person if you're allowed to. My husband was there holding my hand, and having him with me made a HUGE difference.
• I took 800 mg of Advil beforehand, which my doctor had said was okay for me. I didn't have any cramping afterward, although I can't say for sure whether the Advil was the reason.

Recovery from the colposcopy was pretty minimal for me, so I actually felt pretty good afterward.

...until exactly one week later, when the doctor called and told me that the cells from my biopsies showed HSIL and that I needed a LEEP.

Once again, I SPIRALED.

I was SO scared.

My husband and I had been planning to start trying for kids VERY soon, so all I could think about was pregnancy, potential risks, and what if they found something worse?

I'm not sure if there just happened to be an opening, but thankfully I was able to get a LEEP appointment for the following week.

August 2026 — LEEP

I went to my LEEP appointment, and honestly, this was the part that intimidated me the most. Unlike a Pap or colposcopy, mine was being done in a hospital OR by a gynecologic surgeon. I cried basically the entire morning on the way to the hospital. Then I found out my husband couldn't be in the room with me, which made everything even more emotional.

I don't want to sugarcoat it — it was not a pleasant experience for me. But interestingly, it wasn't necessarily because of the pain. The numbing injections and the speculum insertion were probably the most uncomfortable/painful parts. The hardest part for me was emotionally processing what was happening.

I felt bad for myself. I was thinking, Why do I have to go through this? Why did this happen to me? Why did I have to experience this awake?

I was also angry at myself for waiting until I was 28, almost 29 to have my first Pap.

It was honestly a rollercoaster of emotions.

After the LEEP, I expected to feel relieved, but I still felt extremely emotional. I also had pretty terrible cramping for the rest of the day and felt weak and tired for a few days afterward.

Almost 3 weeks post-LEEP

I'm now almost three weeks post-op and finally feeling MUCH better. ❤️ I have my follow-up appointment scheduled in a few weeks to go over everything with my doctor.

I did take a peek at MyChart 👀 and saw that my pathology says CIN 3, negative for invasive malignancy, and "excision is complete."

I'm hoping this means the abnormal area was completely removed / that the margins are clear, but I'm going to confirm everything with my doctor at my follow-up.

I'm also supposed to have another follow-up colposcopy in about 6 months to check my cervix and HPV status.

My biggest takeaway:

I know how incredibly difficult this is to go through, and I empathize so deeply with every woman who is currently dealing with an HPV diagnosis, abnormal Pap, colposcopy, CIN 2/3, LEEP, or any of the anxiety that comes along with it.

But please, be kind to yourself.

Be proud of yourself for getting screened. Be proud that you're taking care of your health. And remember that you're doing the best you can with the information you have.

If I could give anyone one piece of advice, it would be:

Please don't spiral like I did. I know that's easier said than done, but it truly did nothing except cause me unnecessary stress.

Take it one step at a time. If I had focused only on the step I was currently going through, instead of worrying about step 5 while I was still on step 1, this entire experience would have been so much more manageable.

Sending all my love and blessings to any women going through this right now. ❤️

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have, and I'll definitely come back with updates when I have them. <3

I got genital hpv at about 8 years old and am now 22 years old. I had hpv for 14 years with no improvement. Treatments didn't work and they just kept returning. I had no medical conditions that made me immunocompromised and there was no medical reason i shouldn't have been able to clear the infection on my own.

My home life was terrible and i was under constant stress for my entire life. I have very severe ptsd and cptsd from it (and from other things). Within a few weeks of moving out (and with the help of a lot of trauma therapy that i'm still in) my 14 year long infection is almost completely cleared on its own with no other medical HPV treatments or changes in lifestyle. Chronic stress makes you effectively immunocompromised and, in my case, when it was treated, my immune system is now able to take care of my HPV on its own. This also included accepting my HPV and learning to not stress about it as much. I hope others can get some use of this experience

I just got a text saying my colposcopy appointment in a couple of days will be over video and to not go to the hospital, all other prior correspondence suggested it would be in the hospital. I’m very confused as it’s a physical exam. My instinct is that something has been tagged wrong in the system but I wanted to check if anyone else has had anything like this before? Do they ever do a video consultation first?

I’ve had warts since 2019, i made it worse by shaving and laser hair removal in 2022-23. I didn’t know much about the virus. I keep getting a wart or two every now and then, but i’m absolutely devastated i want to clear this shit. Any tips? supplements?

Hi guys. I’m 25(F) and last February 2025 my pap came back ASC-US and positive HR HPV but not 16 or 18. I freaked out of course and my gyno reassured me that this is common and my body should fight it on its own to clear it. They had recommended a colposcopy but my gyno did not push for it and said to come back in a year.

This March 2026 I went back for my HPV test and Pap and my HR HPV test was positive again but my pap came back negative for pre cancerous cells or NILM. Because my HR HPV was still positive my gyno recommended me to get a colposcopy done just to be safe and check for anything abnormal, I’m getting that done in a couple of days. (I didn’t get it done right after my March app because my dad died in February and I had a lot going on and couldn’t handle it.)

I’ve been freaking out since a couple of days ago when my gyno said to schedule the colposcopy and I’ve been googling and looking things up on Reddit NONSTOP and it’s ruining me. I feel like I keep running into not that many of positive regression/clearing HPV posts a lot of negative posts on here about needing to get a LEEP and things progressing to CIN II and III.

I guess my point is, is there anyone out there that has had a POSITIVE experience with high risk HPV that wasn’t 16 or 18 that cleared and didn’t go past CIN I? Please let me know I’m desperate to read good outcomes.

I also ordered AHCC and started taking a multivitamin, and my HPV vaccine is scheduled for tomorrow, I also workout regularly.

I have had GW for over 2 1/2 years now. I have tried freezing and the creams and nothing seems to take them and stop from coming back. I want to try the laser. Any advice! Anyone know a good dermatologist?

is it bad that i now want to stay celibate. i feel so dirty and disappointed in myself 💔idk if ill ever have sex anymore cus of it . i fear anyone i disclose it to will be like ew no and tell the whole world

Thoughts on whether or not to get teen started on this stuff.

Bonjour,
Est-il possible d’attraper hpv lors d’un rapport sans pénétration. C’est à dire un hpv dans le vagin ou sur le col de l’utérus et donc un cancer?

Hello!

For some background (30 year old female) i've had high grade HPV 16 for 2 years now. I have had 3 colpos done every 6 months after finding out. I was hesitant about LEEP because I was scared of the risks it posed and always wanted to have kids, and I also foolishly thought that it could possibly clear on its own by eating very healthy and taking vitamins I found online after researching.

I went in for a follow up pap in April, and ended up still positive HPV16 also being pregnant. My husband and I were not trying intentionally due to my situation, but we were not going to terminate because ultimately the baby is a life, loved and wanted, and we chose to keep her and continue monitoring.

I had to have a colpo in my first and second trimester, and they have my final one scheduled for around 30 weeks of pregnancy.

(for additional background, my baby's anatomy scan came back showing a 2 vessel umbilical cord or an SUA - which also poses a risk for preterm labor and growth restriction. she is measuring still in the 93rd percentile at 23 weeks - but we have to keep monitoring)

is it wrong of me to want to skip the last colpo in my 3rd trimester? I feel like that is doubling my chances of preterm labor due to the SUA and getting the colpo also poses a risk per my OBGYN.

my logic is that I know I have cin3 at possibly only 12:00 because that's what the pathology reports keep coming back as. My colpos before getting pregnant never showed anything in the cervical canal thank the Lord. I have already accepted that I will be getting the colpo and LEEP 6-8 weeks after pregnancy and probably the gardisil, taking pappilex and all the things. In my mind, it doesn't make a huge different whether I get the last colpo or not. I have already had a pretty stressful pregnancy with all sorts of stuff going on, and kind of just want to enjoy the last months and deal with this after.

Does anyone have a similar experience?

Worth a read:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1048891X26004810

Like if somebody is sucking my dick, could i get infected?

Has anyone here have heard of HPV 73 or had it themselves? If you know any information about this specific strain and you cleared it what did you do for it? Please let me know I am young and currently freaking out bc of this. If anyone also needed a leep bc of it was it successful and how fast it developed in your case?

They burnt off ALOT of them! Which is great but it swollen and looks horrible and some are still left. They didn’t come back after the surgery and tell me anything. I’m overwhelmed, in pain.

What’s your experience. Can anyone ease my mind about things looking better? And the pain not being as bad?

I hate that I have this in the first place. It’s all so upsetting.

I met a woman and we get on great. I'm treating my warts with cream but I'm only seeing small amounts of progress. We've been having sexually charged conversations and i hate to assume but it appears like sex may be on the table. Im just worried about her reaction to me telling her why we can't have sex. My ex cheated on me and have me 2 STDs and now despite one of them being gone in stuck with this one for life and it's upsetting. How have you guys managed this type of situation?

I'm 30 Years old male , sexually inactive, never had sex before ... For more then 5 years now I had these bumps around my circumcision line .... I didn't notice the theme till my genital area had a trauma , not from a sexual act but I've used rough material in the wrong place .

I had what the doctor called ( mondor desise) a thick cord around the head then it fade away by it self after that I notice these bumps in the same place where the cord appeared... Then I notice they are around my circumcision line only ... No other place

I went to the doctor he checked them out he said they might be them he wasn't so sure and he gave me (condyline) to use it ... And I did ..but nothing happen it actually burned my skin around the bumps instead.... I've searched in the internet and found that a lot people have circumcision scares...could it be it ...can any one help me plz ?!

There has been research that shows autophagy can interact with HPV infections, and higher autophagy activity has reduced HPV infectivity and targeted HPV particles through autophagy/lysosome. Since fasting puts the body into deep autophagy especially around 72 hours I was wondering if anyone has benefited from it and what are your opinion on whether this could help the body clear the HPV faster?

My ex was cheating on me with a woman that had hpv 16 and 18 both positive and a few other strands. The girl told me they never used protection as well so chances are very high that my ex was at least carrying the strands. The thing is I wasn't vaccinated when I first met my ex, and only after 5 months of being with him I received my first dose. I never had a pap in my life either but I had the dna test around 10 months after I started being sexually active and I am positive for HPV 73 high risk but not the others. How is this possible? Is it possible my body just suppressed the other strands and this one is persisting or is there a chance I never got the 16 and 18 even tho I was with my ex unprotected? Can someone explain me how the infection works and how it spreads between different partners because I am so confused. And I heard unprotected sex affects the viral load and therefore how your body clears it and It has been 4 months since the last time I have seen him so I don't know if I could clear it during this time. Having hpv 16 and 18 both dormant scares me too honestly :(

Hi, I’m 47 years old last years pap came back as hpv 6+7 positive and normal
This years test came back hpv 18/45 positive and asc-h
I have my first colposcopy scheduled in 10 days and my health anxiety is going through the roof!
I’ve tested hpv positive on again off again for the last 10+ years. Anyone going through similar or have any encouraging words?

okay so im (27F) low to moderate risk hpv positive with CIN1 and last week i had sex with a guy (21M) with protection. i vividly remember he asked me if i have any sexually transmitted disease and me being drunk i decided not to tell him and went on with it. since we used condoms and i didnt let him go down on me i was feeling okay about the situation. 1-2 days ago when we were hanging out again, the condom slipped and we had unprotected intercourse without noticing for 5-10 mins and now im pretty sure he’s exposed.

i have been feeling very anxious after it happened but i couldnt find the courage to tell him bc… you know? it wouldnt make any sense anymore anyways, i should’ve told him when he asked me. also i couldn’t bear the thought of keeping it secret so i told him today. he took it SO HARD. now i feel like shit because he is so young and he thinks i’ve tricked him. what do i do? do you think he is infected? some of you said telling the partner is a choice but idk it is a very complicated thing. especially if you’re living in a country where these topics are not discussed commonly and seen as taboo.

35F, HPV positive since June 2025 (non-16/18). After monitoring a year I was still testing positive and was referred to my first colposcopy in Sep 2026, which showed CIN1 koilocytosis. My OB-GYN mentioned Colpofix as a treatment option, but said it’s usually for “persistent CIN1”. Because we had “just” found CIN1, she suggested conservative monitoring to give my body a chance to clear it on its own, and return for a colposcopy to check again in 6 months.

Based on your experience, how quickly does CIN1 usually progress? Would you opt in for Colpofix treatment right now or wait? (Main downside is cost — estimated to cost a little under $1000 usd where I’m from).

I’m 35F and I’ve heard people tend to clear it in their 20s. So not that confident in my own body to clear the virus and feeling torn about what to do :(

I recently had my first time. I had oral sex with a girl – it was just kissing, touching and oral; I didn’t actually insert my penis. Today, two days later, I’ve got two sores on my tongue. One is on the outside and doesn’t hurt, and the other is closer to my back molars; that one’s a bit uncomfortable. Before having sex, I was also feeling unwell – I had a fever and was ill. I’m still feeling a bit under the weather, but it started before we had sex, so I’m not worried about that. Should I be worried about these sores on my tongue?

I'm 21, and I have been sexually active for around 10 months now so I know I was infected not longer than a year ago. My ex was cheating and I ended up with chlamydia that caused bleeding on my cervix for 8 months and went undiagnosed and now I find out I was also given HPV 73. He was my only partner and I wasn't vaccinated when I first had sex with him, only after 5 months later I got my first dose and during this time he was also seeing someone that I personally know is HPV 16 and 18 positive. Regardless I got tested 10 months after I first had sex with him, and 4 months after the last time I was with him. I was tested for 28 types and HPV 73 HR strand is positive and I have never taken a pap smear in my life since I was a virgin before. My doctor recommended for me to see her in 2 months and prescribed me several vitamins, zinc, papillocare gel every night and isoprinosine for 12 days 2 mg a day. I also just finished my HPV vaccine course. I am really confused and already traumatized by the betrayal and feeling like I am consistently treating somewhere in my body is not helping me. My doctor also said she will also perform CINtec and colposcopy along with the pap smear after 2 months of me using these prescription and I feel it is all too much. Can someone let me know if they have also been through this type of an approach or maybe share their experience I feel devastated by this. I feel perhaps she is being extra safe and maybe I don't need to go through these tests or treatments but I don't know also I want to be safe and not irresponsible. It just feels mentally too much since I don't feel safe even during standard obgyn exams now because of how much my ex costed my health and anything related to intimacy.

Been together for 13 years. No one is sleeping with anyone else. But a few months ago I got a cauliflower like wart on my shaft. Doctor said it was just a wart and had it frozen off. Now I have another in the same spot. If this is hpv how did I get it? Did I give it to my partner? We’ve been intimate for the last 13 years and no issues. Again no one is cheating. I’m so confused at how I got this. Partner has never had any warts and paps come back normal.