Understanding Abnormal Pap Smear & HPV: What to Expect

Question
hello there.. few weeks ago i went to get a pap smear. doctor call me to tell me my pap smear was abnormal and that i also teste high risk for hpv. my pam smear results also said low grade squamous intraepithelia lesion(lsil. i had a biopsy and colopsopy few days later.. results showed cervical epithelium with chronic cervicitis. he only told me i had an infection in my cervix and that is was inflamed. next day he painted my cervix and told me to came back for a pap smear in 3 months. so does that means i have pre cacerous cells? also if i tested hpv should i get an anal pap smear? thank you. im 25 yrs old and married.

Answer
Hello Rosie,
A Pap smear looks at cells and tries to figure out what they mean.  A biopsy looks at tissue and makes a diagnosis.  Your Pap smear of lsil looked like you had precancerous changes of the cervix.  The biopsy didn't find it.  So you may or may not have precancerous cells in your cervix.  Time will tell.  If future Pap smears find cells that look like lsil, you'll probably need another colposcopy and biopsy.  Perhaps all your future Pap smears will be normal.  Lots of women have high risk HPV, which may or may not cause precancerous changes.  Your body usually will rid itself of the HPV over a year or two.  It's important not to smoke to help your body to do that.  Even if you have precancerous changes of your cervix, they often will disappear on their own without treatment.  An anal Pap smear isn't normal unless you've been having anal intercourse, and even then it's probably not needed.  Anal cancer is rare in someone your age.