CIN 2, HPV 16 & Pregnant

[DisneyLady1]

Hi all,
I am six weeks pregnant, and recently found out that I have HPV 16 with CIN 2 cell changes. Given that I'd just tested positive with my pregnancy, the Doc has advised that we 'monitor' the cell changes throughout the pregnancy, and remove them a few weeks after giving birth (ie. Autumn 2024).

I'm feeling less anxious about this than I thought I would, but would like to know if anyone else has been through the same thing? How was the monitoring during pregnancy? Did the cells regress/progress during the gestation period?

I'm mainly wondering whether the CIN 2 could feasibly become CIN 3 in the space of 9 or so months, or even become cancer? I've read it takes years to become cancer, but is that always the case? I ask this because my last smear (3 years ago) was completely clear, and now it isn't - so the cells must be fairly fast-changing.

I've got a phone call with the doc on Monday, but would be good to hear from actual experiences too.

Thank you :)

I had CIN3 last year and was told it would still likely need another 3-5 years to have developed into cancer

I haven’t been through this but a friend was. CIN3 discovered in early pregnancy, with monitoring advised. She had the LEEP once her baby was born and now has two other children, and her first is almost 10!

Remember that CIN2 can also regress back to nothing, and often a vaginal birth actually scrapes the area clear by itself! And CIN2, you’re still likely 5-10 years away from cancer, if it ever progresses that far.

I had a few abnormal smears a few years prior to becoming pregnant. A biopsy was taken with no clinically significant findings, and I then tested HPV negative with no changes the year I became pregnant. After childbirth I had my first ever HPV positive (weird) but the one year follow up was HPV negative and cytology negative so I was signed back on to regular screening.

The immune system changes during pregnancy. It doesn’t suppress like people think, but it becomes more nuanced in balancing how it responds. Sometimes latent viruses like HPV may become actions again, and then after childbirth the immune system fires back up to normal functioning and once again clears it.

Please try not to worry. I’d bet you a years wages that they won’t progress and you’ll have them removed with no issues after childbirth!

Thanks both for your responses - that is very helpful. @WhamBamThankU I'm glad you managed to get yours treated. We are so lucky to have these procedures nowadays to detect these changes.

@CandleRigg89 that's good to know. It's funny, I'd also heard about childbirth 'scraping' away the cells! Fingers crossed all will be ok :)

I went on a deep dive about HPV after I received that positive so learned a lot and there are still so many misconceptions out there!

I’d honestly put this worry out of your head right now (easier said than done) and focus on supporting your body to manage the HPV infection. Lots of leafy greens (if you can stomach them), complex B supplements, and cold water exposure have all been shown to help speed up clearing the virus from your body. And post pregnancy clearance rates are the same as non-pregnancy - within two years with no problems caused!