"I Messed Around A Lot"

When I was younger I messed around a lot, and by younger I mean around 15. Probably throughout that year between being 15 and 16 I had around ten to eleven sexual partners, I can't remember anymore. One of those, had HPV. I found out I had it during a regular pap, which came back abnormal. I had never heard of HPV before, no one had ever taught it to me in school, no one ever told me that most women get this disease at some point in their lives, no one ever told me most men don't even know they have it. Well, now I had it. A few months after that at a re-check they did, they found out that I had severe pre-cancer, an abnormal growth of cells that may or may not turn into cancer. The doctors told me they had to do what was called a "cone biopsy", they vaguely told me what it was, probably assuming that being 16 I wouldn't understand or care about it. So they scheduled me for surgery, about a month later I went in, they performed it. The surgery entailed removing a cone piece of tissue from my cervix, hopefully getting all of the infected cells out. Later at the follow-up appointment they told me they got it all out, I should be fine.

Two years later, at the age of 18, during another normal pap, they found out that I had pre-cancer again, this time in a different spot. My doctor told me they could remove it again, or they could send me to see a specialist. The problem with that though, they said, is that the problem with waiting is it may or may not turn into real cancer, this one was already at the severe stage, just like the last one. I went ahead with the surgery, again, got it removed, again, was told everything was fine, again. But who knows? My doctors told me now, because of the mistakes that I made when I was younger, I have a higher chance of having complications during pregnancy, that my cervix may or may not heal right, though they're expecting that it will since I am so young.

And that's my story.

I know in the agreement it says that I will remain anonymous. I actually don't care about that. Personally, I would rather have people know who I am and who this story belongs to, to put a real face to this. If you would like, or if you have any questions for me about this, I would love for you to get in contact with me through email at; Cloudheart2@gmail.com

- Rachel, age 18