I just want to pass on some helpful information in case anyone may be worried and in the same boat as I was.

I started birth control in 2011. After my annual pap in 2012, I found out I had HPV and abnormal/precancerous cells. Naturally I freaked out and had every STD test ran when I went back for the colposcopy/biopsy. I was told the HPV would more than likely clear on its own in a matter of a few months or so. Fast forward to 2018 and multiple traumatizing biopsies later and my paps were still coming back abnormal and my HPV had not cleared up. I was still taking my birth control. In April 2018, I went to my pcp about my weight concerns and I stopped taking my birth control just to see if that would help me lose weight more efficiently. I went back to my gyno in January 2019 and for the first time in 7 long years, my pap came back normal!!

I firmly believe the birth control is what caused my HPV to not clear up even though my gyno told me it wouldn’t affect it. So if there is anyone who is at a loss about why your HPV isn’t clearing up, it may just be your birth control!