Abnormal Pap Smear

What does it mean?

What is a Pap smear?

A pap smear (also known as a pap test or cervical smear) takes cells from the entrance to your uterus (the cervix) so the doctor can examine them for abnormalities. If your pap smear is normal, you should have one every 3-5 years (unless you have had a hysterectomy or endometriosis). If you have had an abnormal pap smear it should be repeated every 6-12 months.

Understanding HPV

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is most common worldwide. There are several different strains of HPV and some are more serious than others. HPV is often the cause of an abnormal pap smear result. It is responsible for most cases of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers, with cervical cancer being the most likely effect.

Preventing HPV

The best way to prevent getting the strains of HPV that most often cause cancer is to get one of the vaccines against the disease. Even if you have been previously diagnosed with HPV, there are over a 100 strains so it’s still a good idea to get vaccinated. Ceverix protects against the 2 types most likely to cause cancer, while Gardasil protects against 4 types of HPV - the 2 most likely to cause cancer and the 2 that most often cause genital warts. These vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective and are recommended for women ages 9-26 (Gardasil is also recommended for men in that age range).

Understanding your results

An abnormal result from a pap smear means that your cells looked different under a microscope. This can mean you have a bit of inflammation, or it can be as serious as cancer. It takes further testing for your doctor to determine how serious the abnormal results are. If you do get an abnormal pap smear, it’s likely that your doctor will recommend that you be tested more often. If retested, it’s best to avoid anything that might irritate the cervix (for example, using a tampon or having sex) for 48 hours prior to the test.

The next step

Your doctor may recommend that you undergo a procedure called a colposcopy where they use a microscope to look at your cervix more closely. At that time your doctor may choose to take a biopsy or scraping of the area. Depending on how serious your pap result is and how precancerous the cells are, your doctor may have to remove the abnormal cells with either a cutting laser or electrical loop.

The most important thing if you have had an abnormal pap smear is to follow up for testing and treatment based on your doctor’s recommendations.