What You Should Know About Getting An Abnormal Pap Smear Result
Posted on: 16 March 2016
A pap smear is a type of test done on women beginning in their teen years when they become sexually active, or as early adults. It tests cervical cells to look for infections and early signs of cervical cancer. The test either comes back as normal or abnormal. Here are some things to know about abnormal pap smears.
It Doesn't Always Mean Cancer
Getting an abnormal result following the pap smear is often associated with cancer, but this doesn't automatically mean you have cervical cancer. There are many other reasons you could get this result, including many other conditions of the cervix. However, if this was your test result, your gynecologist will want to perform more tests to find out exactly why you got this result. In fact, it is less common from cancer than from other conditions or infections. If you do get this result, which may appear as a "positive" result, more cervical cells will be taken to test further. There is no reason to worry until all other possibilities have been ruled out.
The Test Results Include Other Information
Your doctor will also determine the cause for the abnormal test result by looking at other codes and phrases used in the result provided by the laboratory. There are many things that could help to classify and explain the final test results. You may have the result labeled as benign changes, which means the pap test was normal, but you might get an abnormal final result if there are signs of inflammation in the cells. This inflammation could be a sign of an infection that needs to be treated. The more serious code is when the word ASCUS is used. This means there were atypical squamous cells, which are abnormal and could be a sign of cancer or other conditions of the cervix.
Return For More Tests
When you get an abnormal test, you need to make a prompt appointment to return to the gynecologist and have other tests performed. This often includes a second pap smear to see if the results are the same the second time. It is not unusual for the cells to show a normal result with the second test. The doctor might also want to perform a biopsy, where they remove some tissue from the cervix, and have the tissue tested, or perform a colposcopy to look closely at the cervix. If your doctor finds evidence of an infection, you typically only need an antibiotic to help treat it. Contact a doctor, like Heart Of Florida Ob/GYN Associates, for more information.
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