Full Answer
What does a bad Pap smear result mean?
Results that come back showing the presence of HPV or cancerous or pre-cancerous cells is what the doctor is referring to if you have a “bad” Pap test. The results from continued screenings over time help us determine the next course of action to protect you and your cervix.
What is a bad Pap smear?
These risk factors include:
- A diagnosis of cervical cancer or a Pap smear that showed precancerous cells
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth
- HIV infection
- Weakened immune system due to organ transplant, chemotherapy or chronic corticosteroid use
- A history of smoking
What if my Pap test results are abnormal?
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. Possible abnormal findings on a Pap test include ASC-US, AGC, LSIL, ASC-H, HSIL, AIS, or cervical cancer. Your health care provider will recommend follow-up steps you need to take based on your specific test result and your past test results.
What causes abnormal Pap results?
WHAT CAUSES AN ABNORMAL PAP SMEAR RESULT?
- ASCUS (Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance). This means your Pap smear results are borderline, between normal and abnormal.
- ASC-H (Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance-cannot exclude HSIL). ...
- LSIL (Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). ...
- HSIL (High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). ...
What happens if you have two abnormal Pap smears?
What Happens After an Abnormal Pap Test? If your Pap test results are abnormal, your doctor may recommend a colposcopy. If you're told that you need a colposcopy, don't panic, says Coleman.
How long does it take for abnormal cells to turn into cancer?
These aren't cancer cells, but cells that may turn cancerous if left untreated for many years. It takes 10-15 years for pre-cancer to progress to cancer. If you already have cancer cells, this would show up as malignancy.
When should I be worried about an abnormal Pap smear?
If the answer is “more than three years,” it's time to call our office and schedule an exam. At Physicians for Women, we use the ThinPrep Pap Test, which is the most effective and widely used test available and has been proven to increase early detection of precancerous cells.
How many paps come back abnormal?
About 5% of all Pap tests will be abnormal, meaning that the sample contains atypical cervical cells. However, the majority of these cells are not cancerous or even precancerous. An abnormal Pap test result does not mean cancer, but it does require follow-up to rule out the possibility of cancer.
What are the symptoms of Stage 1 cervical cancer?
Signs and symptoms of stage 1 cervical cancer can include:Watery or bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and can have a foul odor.Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between menstrual periods or after menopause.Menstrual periods may be heavier and last longer than normal.
Can cervical cancer develop in 2 years?
Is it possible for cervical cancer to develop in 2 years? There's no evidence to suggest that cervical cancer can develop in just 2 years. Current research demonstrates that cervical cancer takes many years to develop. The time from an HPV infection, to changes in the cervix to cervical cancer, is often decades.
How long does it take for HPV to cause abnormal cells?
HPV-related cancers often take years to develop after getting an HPV infection. Cervical cancer usually develops over 10 or more years. There can be a long interval between being infected with HPV, the development of abnormal cells on the cervix and the development of cervical cancer.
Why did my Pap smear came back abnormal?
There are actually lots of reasons your Pap smear may come back “abnormal.” You may have an infection or inflammation, growth or cysts, changes in your hormones (usually due to pregnancy or menopause), problems with your immune system related to diabetes, HIV, or autoimmune diseases.
What happens if you have abnormal cells after a smear?
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.
What can cause an abnormal Pap smears besides HPV?
Most abnormal Pap tests are caused by HPV infections. Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells.
What are the chances of abnormal cells returning?
After treatment for cell changes: about 9 in 10 (90%) people will not have cell changes again. fewer than 2 in 10 (between 5% and 15%) people may have cell changes that come back.
How often are colposcopy results normal?
About 4 in 10 colposcopy results are normal. This means no cell changes (abnormal cells) were found in your cervix during colposcopy or biopsy. You can have a normal colposcopy result even if you had an abnormal cervical screening result.
What happens after colposcopy?
You’ll feel a pinch, nothing more. Then, your cells are off to the lab for analysis. You might experience some mild cramping after colposcopy, but that’s it.
Can a colposcopy be a cancer?
When your colposcopy is complete and your biopsy results are finalized, your doctor will explain the changes in your tissue sample. Sometimes, those changes are low-grade. This means you can watch and wait. Low-grade cervical changes are unlikely to become cervical cancer. If the changes are moderate- to high-grade, your doctor will evaluate more options. These changes create a higher risk of cervical cancer.
Can a Pap smear detect cancer?
A regular Pap smear at your gynecologist’s office can detect abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer . “The good news is that we can actually prevent people from getting cancer because these cellular changes happen over several years. With a Pap test, we can treat abnormal cells before they progress to cancer,” says Jenell Coleman, M.D., ...
Is a Pap smear a gynecologist's office?
Still, it’s essential. A regular Pap smear at your gynecologist’s office can detect abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer .
Do women have cancer when they have a colposcopy?
If you’re told that you need a colposcopy, don’t panic, says Coleman. “Women come to me saying, ‘Oh, my gosh. I could have cancer!’. But most women do not have cancer when they come in for a colposcopy. I’ve done hundreds of colposcopies, and I’ve diagnosed less than a handful of cervical cancers,” she adds.
Can a doctor remove cervix?
If the changes are moderate- to high-grade, your doctor will evaluate more options. These changes create a higher risk of cer vical cancer. If there are moderate to severe changes in your cervix, your doctor may want to remove the cervical tissue.
What to do if your doctor notices a suspicious cell?
If your doctor notices any suspicious cells, a small biopsy of the tissue may be taken and sent to the lab for further examination. If your biopsy results indicate the presence of precancerous cells or a type of HPV that’s more likely to cause cancer, your doctor may suggest treating the area using cryosurgery .
What does abnormal pap smears mean?
Abnormal pap smear results are very common and can indicate a variety of issues. Some of the more serious issues include the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) or precancerous cells on the cervix. If you’re younger than age 30, your doctor may not have tested you for HPV—which is a separate test from the pap smear—so you may be asked ...
What happens if a pap smear comes back abnormal?
Learning that the results of your recent pap smear came back abnormal can generate feelings of anxiety and concern. Rest assured that the gynecologists and women’s health specialists in the Sutter Health network can help you understand your results and treatment options. Abnormal pap smear results are very common and can indicate a variety ...
What is the procedure called for precancerous cells?
Your doctor may suggest a different treatment method for precancerous cells called the loop electrosurgical excision procedure ( LEEP). During this outpatient procedure, your doctor applies a numbing agent to the cervix so you won’t feel any pain.
How does a wire loop help the cervix?
Then a thin wire loop that emits an electrical current cuts away a small layer of cells on your cervix. The electrical current cauterizes the tissue on your cervix to help prevent bleeding. In many cases, this procedure removes all of the abnormal cells and additional surgery isn’t needed.
What does a gynecologist do during a colposcopy?
During a colposcopy, your gynecologist uses a microscope to get a more detailed look at the cells on your cervix. After gently swabbing your cervix with a vinegar or iodine solution, your doctor looks for signs of abnormal tissue.
What is the procedure to remove cervix?
Another procedure that can both diagnose and treat abnormal cells is the cold knife cone biopsy. This procedure is done in a hospital setting under general anesthesia or other sedation. During this procedure, your doctor removes a cone-shaped area of tissue around the cervix.
What is an Abnormal Pap Smear?
An abnormal pap smear means that changes in your cervical cells have been detected. When this occurs, your doctor will first test them to make sure it isn’t a false positive.
Does This Mean I Have Cervical Cancer?
No, not entirely! While a pap smear is in fact one of the best ways to discover cervical cancer, it doesn’t always mean you have cancer. In fact, there are several other possible reasons why you have abnormal results.
Potential Things That Cause an Abnormal Pap Smear
When someone gets the call from their doctor that their results are abnormal, it’s completely understandable to get nervous.
Types of Exams & Tests for Abnormal Pap Smears
In order to be sure of which treatment option will be best for you, your gynecologist will run some examinations and tests to better understand what the cause is.
How to Conduct Further Tests on an Abnormal Pap Smear
The type of treatment your gynecologist will recommend depends on several factors, including the severity of change to your cells, your age, and medical history. Here are some common treatment options your doctor may recommend.
Treatment Options for Abnormal Cervical Cells
Once your test results come back and your doctor thoroughly analyzes them, you will be guided to the best treatment options for you.
What to Expect After an Abnormal Pap Smear Treatment
Just like any other surgical procedure, you may experience some post-procedural symptoms. While every patient and treatment is different, there are common symptoms you may experience.
How long does it take for a Pap test to come back?
Pap test results usually come back from the lab in about 1-3 weeks. If you don't hear from your health care provider, call and ask for your test results.
What does a Pap test show?
Pap test results show if cervical cells are normal or abnormal. A Pap test may also come back as unsatisfactory. Normal Pap test results: A normal test result may also be called a negative test result or negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy.
What is the purpose of a Pap cotest?
The HPV/Pap cotest uses a Pap test and HPV test together to check for both high-risk HPV and cervical cell changes.
What is HPV test?
The HPV test checks cells for infection with high-risk HPV types. The Pap test (also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology) collects cervical cells and looks at them for changes caused by HPV that may—if left untreated—turn into cervical cancer. It can also detect cervical cancer cells.
How long does it take for a cervical cancer screening to be done?
Both types of cervical cancer screening tests are usually done during a pelvic exam, which takes only a few minutes. During this exam, you lie on your back on an exam table, bend your knees, and put your feet into supports at the end of the table.
Can AIS be precancer?
AIS lesions may be referred to as precancer and may become cancer ( cervical adenocarcinoma) if not treated. Your health care provider will likely ask you to come back for a colposcopy . Cervical cancer cells ( squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma) are sometimes found on a Pap test.
Can you have cervical cancer if you have abnormal Pap results?
An abnormal test result does not mean you have cervical cancer. Possible abnormal findings on a Pap test include ASC-US, AGC, LSIL, ASC-H, HSIL, AIS, or cervical cancer. Your health care provider will recommend follow-up steps you need to take based on your specific test result and your past test results.
How many Pap smears are performed annually?
Abnormal Pap Smear Follow-up. Each year, over 50 million Pap tests are performed in the United States to screen for cervical cancer. During this simple test, a small sample of cells are scraped from the cervix and examined under a microscope to look for precancerous changes.
What is abnormal Pap?
Most of the abnormal cells found during a Pap test are the result of a cervical or vaginal infection and are not cancerous. Abnormal Pap tests are very common. In fact, of the 3 million women with abnormal Pap tests each year, less than 1% (13,240 cases) will be diagnosed with cervical cancer.
What is the procedure to remove abnormal tissue from the cervix?
A small sample of tissue is removed from the cervix. A pathologist then checks this tissue under a microscope to rule out the possibility of cancer. Conization (cone biopsy or cold knife biopsy) and LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure) are used to remove abnormal tissue from the cervix. These procedures are both diagnostic and ...
What test to do if you have HPV and Pap?
If you have both an abnormal Pap smear and positive HPV test results, your doctor will suggest one or more of the following tests to rule out the possibility of cervical cancer or remove cancerous cells: Colposcopy. During this simple, minimally invasive procedure, the doctor takes a closer look at the cervix using a special instrument called ...
What does a Pap test show?
The Pap test is done to detect cancerous or precancerous cells early, when treatment is the most effective. About 5% of all Pap tests will be abnormal, meaning that the sample contains atypical cervical cells. However, the majority of these cells are not cancerous or even precancerous. An abnormal Pap test result does not mean cancer, ...
How to reduce risk of cervical cancer?
To reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer, get screened regularly, practice safe sex, and talk to your doctor about the HPV vaccine, which protects against 9 different types of HPV strains that cause cancer or genital warts.
Is a Pap test abnormal?
However, the majority of these cells are not cancerous or even precancerous. An abnormal Pap test result does not mean cancer, but it does require follow-up to rule out the possibility of cancer.
What is the best way to check if a Pap smear is HSIL?
If the Pap smear is HSIL the recommendation is for you to have a colposcopy. A colposcope allows your healthcare provider to view the cells on your cervix more closely (it's like looking under a microscope) and possibly take samples of abnormal cells for further evaluation by a laboratory. This is called a biopsy.
What is the difference between LSIL and HSIL?
LSIL (Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). This means that there are mildly abnormal cell changes on your cervix. HSIL (High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). This means that the cell changes on your cervix are more serious. There are more categories of Pap smear results, including ones which indicate cervical cancer.
What is a Pap smear?
Pap smears are screening tests and do not tell you specifically what is causing the abnormal results . The abnormal cell changes can be mildly abnormal or seriously abnormal. The degree of abnormal cells on the Pap smear is what helps your healthcare provider make recommendations for your follow-up. The most common categories ...
What causes abnormal pap smears?
Abnormal Pap Smears are typically caused by strains of the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV. An abnormal pap smear result does not mean you have cervical cancer. High risk strains can cause more serious cellular changes. Typically, both high and low risk strains of HPV go away within 24 months. It's recommended that you get your first pap smear at age 21.
Why is a Pap smear abnormal?
HPV, Human Papiloma Virus, causes abnormal Pap smear results because HPV is a virus which infects skin cells. When subclinical HPV infects the skin cells in the cervix (skin cells on the cervix are called squamous cells), it causes the cells to change and become abnormal.
What does HPV test tell you?
You may also choose to have a test for HPV. This test will tell you if you have the high or low risk types of HPV. The HPV test is helpful if the results indicate that you have the low risk types of HPV because you will know that there is little chance that the cell changes found on your Pap smear will get worse.
What is the name of the virus that is found on a Pap smear?
Sometimes bacteria or other viruses such as Herpes are identified on Pap smear results. When this happens, Women's Health Specialists may attempt to contact you to offer you further evaluation and treatment.
How many women die from cervical cancer each year?
First, each year in the United States there are an estimated 15,000 new cases of cervical cancer. Each year, about 5,000 women will die needlessly of the disease. Regular Pap smears are the most effective way to screen for this disease.
What is liquid based cervical cytology?
The guidelines also tout a relatively new technique, liquid-based cervical cytology, in which cervical cells are collected in liquid instead of smeared onto a slide, as in a Pap smear. The liquid-based screening makes more cells available if additional HPV testing is needed, which means women would only need to have one sample taken.
How many women have abnormal Pap smears?
New Guidelines for Managing Women with Abnormal Pap Smears. Each year 3.5 million women have some degree of abnormality on their Pap smear the test most commonly used to screen for cervical cancer and require additional attention.
What is the American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology?
The American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology brought together experts in cervical cancer prevention to develop comprehensive specifications. The guidelines they created could make things easier for women who have inconclusive Pap smear results. The most common abnormal Pap smear result, occurring in about 1 in 20 tests, ...
Is HPV test the same as Pap smear?
The HPV testing done on the self-collected samples was not equivalent to the HPV tests done on the physician-collected samples, but was just as good as the Pap sme ar. And did not require a trip to the doctors office.
Can a Pap smear eliminate cervical cancer?
Most women know that regular Pap smears can almost eliminate the chances of developing invasive cervical cancer. By examining the cervix for abnormal (and potentially precancerous) cells, treatment can be started before a real problem develops. What many women may not know is that human papilloma viruses (HPVs) (which cause genital warts) ...
Do ASC US women have cervical cancer?
While most women with ASC- US do not have a significant cervical lesion and only about 1 in 1,000 have cervical cancer, they are at considerable risk for a high-grade cervical cancer precursor lesion and require some form of follow-up. The conference evaluated data supporting different approaches of ASC-US management and found ...
An Abnormal Pap Smear Is Quite Common
You may or may not know this, but an abnormal pap smear is quite common. According to Rosewell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, an estimated 5% of pap smear tests will be abnormal, and less than 1% of these tests result in cervical cancer.
Benign Causes of An Abnormal Pap Smear
In addition to lab errors and pre-appointment slip-ups, it’s possible to have an abnormal pap smear caused by a benign, non-threatening reason.
Abnormal Pap Smear Results To Take Note Of
As discussed before, abnormal pap smears are not uncommon and occur often. However, there are instances that negative results indicate serious complications.
The Importance of Pap Smears
I know firsthand that abnormal pap smears are not fun. I had one when I was in my early 20’s and was diagnosed with HPV. It was scary and upsetting, but thankfully my immune system overcame it, and it cleared up within six months.
