If the results of your Pap test come back positive, that means your doctor found abnormal or unusual cells on your cervix. It doesn’t mean you have cervical cancer. Most often, the abnormal test result means there have been cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
When should I be worried about an abnormal pap smear?
Most abnormal Pap smear results are nothing to worry about Most women will have at least one abnormal Pap smear result in their lifetime, with an overall average of 5% of all Pap tests coming back as “abnormal.” In most cases, the abnormal result is nothing to worry about, but it’s important to follow up to make sure.
Does abnormal Pap mean cervical cancer?
You may need to come back sooner if you had abnormal results in the past. Abnormal Pap test results: An abnormal test result may also be called a positive test result. An abnormal test result does not mean you have cervical cancer.
What happens if smear test results are abnormal?
If your cervical smear test shows abnormal cells, you may have a different test to look closely at your cervix. This is called a colposcopy. Sometimes the doctor or nurse doing the test can see that the cells are abnormal. They may offer you treatment to remove these cells during the colposcopy.
Can a yeast infection cause an abnormal Pap smear?
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and even yeast infections can cause a slightly abnormal pap smear. Your doctor will recommend the best course of action based on the results of your test. This can range from scheduling another Pap in three to six months, to getting a colposcopy.
What if my Pap smear shows ascus and HPV?
What if my Pap Smear Shows ASCUS and HPV? A pap smear that has atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and human papillovirus (HPV) listed on it generally means that the patient has ASCUS on her cervix; however, HPV is suspected as the cause for the atypical cell appearance.
What is Pap smear and what do my results mean?
A Pap smear test is a simple procedure that looks for abnormal cell changes in the cervix. The cervix is the lowest part of the uterus, located at the top of your vagina. The Pap smear test can detect pre-cancerous cells. That means the cells can be removed before they have a chance to develop into cervical cancer,…
What are the types of abnormal Pap results?
The changes are almost always a sign of an HPV infection. ASC-US is the most common abnormal Pap test result. Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)—LSIL means that the cervical cells show changes that are mildly abnormal. LSIL usually is caused by an HPV infection that often goes away on its own.
What is an irregular Pap smear?
An abnormal Pap smear may indicate that you have an infection or abnormal cells called dysplasia. It’s important to remember that abnormal Pap smear results do not mean you have cancer. These results just show that further testing should be done to verify whether or not there is a problem.
