Alternative treatment options

Like many of you, I have been battling high risk HPV (16 & 18) for over 10 years. I have had countless biopsies over the years, but a LEEP was never suggested because nothing was actually getting worse.

Fast forward to 2024 and things finally had worsened. I had three biopsies taken - two of which were CIN2. Because I am starting to think about family planning, my doctor said we had two paths: one was to do the LEEP and accept the small risk of preterm birth and the other was to take folic acid & B12 and repeat colposcopy after 6 months. I opted for the latter.

I immediately began taking those two supplements and AHCC - a mushroom extract supplement that has strong evidence backing its ability to clear persistent, high risk HPV.

Long story short, I just went in for the repeat colposcopy & pap and I had no dysplasia and HPV was undetected on my pap. I couldn’t even believe it - still kind of can’t after all these years. Based on these results, my doctor wants to move back to annual paps.

I’m writing this post to share that there IS hope and you DO have alternative options if you don’t feel comfortable with a LEEP. I know every case is different, but please do you own research into AHCC and talk to your doctor about evidence based alternative treatment options. I hope this post can help at least one person out there going through this. I know it is often a lonely struggle, but I am sending you all love and support from afar!