How many biopsies did you have at colposcopy?

Treatment for cell changes (abnormal cells)
1

Hi all, I hope this isn’t too silly a question, but I was wondering what the “normal” number of biopsies taken at an initial colpo might be? I had 5 - most of the accounts here have said they had 1 or 2 (though one poor lady said she had 9!)

My smear result was high risk HPV with low dyskariosis - however at the colposcopy my gyno said she could see cell changes (but didn’t really tell me anything else).

Obs from notes were as follows:

“Extensive 4 quadrant ACW change, dense Coarse punctations

12 negativity

Colp impression - HG”

To me this sounds like it’s worse than expected, but at the appointment I was just told I might need a LLETZ.

I’m almost a week into a 3 week wait for results and honestly it’s very distressing, as well as already having to have an emergency appointment for excessive bleeding and pain after the biopsies (it looks like I was beginning to develop an infection and I have now been prescribed antibiotics).

I would really like to have just one child one day (I am 31 with a long term partner of 10 years). I really don’t want a hysterectomy or chemo if I can possibly avoid it. I’ve started papillocare, AHCC and have had my first dose of the vaccine today (I’m honestly fuming that I was just one year too old to have been vaccinated as part of the school vaccination programme, and I was told by my school that it wasn’t worth having it, possibly as it was a very backward, ridiculous religious school).

Is 5 biopsies a lot? I feel like a colander.

2

I had 2 taken, at 6 and 12 o’clock…my mom has had to have 4 done. 5 seems like a higher amount, they didnt tell you why? Im sorry youre going through so.much for this too. Hope that helps and good luck

3

Hi there, thanks so much for taking the time to respond to me. I think it is a higher amount, not that I knew this at the time as no one told me that! She said she was taking multiple biopsies to make sure nothing was missed. My results came back about 2 weeks ago and I have a mix of CIN 1,2 and 3 when my smear only came back as low level changes, I think that she took this many to definitely confirm that I had the higher changes as otherwise I wouldn’t be offered a LLETZ. I’m very grateful it’s nothing worse at this stage as that’s what was at the back of my mind and hopefully it’s all been picked up quickly now.

4

As far as I know I had one, but from reading lots of these posts I’m confused as to why - I had LLTEZ there and then so I wonder why I would also need it to be tested! If I’m honest, I have read a lot of these posts the last few days and it really feels like many people have experienced many different things.

5

This isn’t something I’ve heard of either to be honest, unless they meant sending away the material removed during the LLETZ to be analysed as a biopsy? Honestly I completely agree, none of this seems very standardised!

6

Now i am concerned i think the doctor def took more than 5 samples for me.