What Happens If I Have an Abnormal Pap Smear?

Your cervix (also known as the cervix uteri, or neck of the uterus) connects the uterus to your vagina and plays an important part in both your monthly cycle and reproduction overall. The lowest section of your uterus produces its own mucus to make the passage of sperm easier, and it can change positions during your period or when you’re pregnant.

This part of your reproductive system has the risk of several medical conditions, including cervical cancer, which is why getting Pap smears is so important. Because of the concerns over cancer and other conditions, abnormal pap smear results can make people anxious. Let’s try to ease the tensions with a better understanding of what abnormal results can mean.

California residents in Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, Corona, and Indio who are worried about abnormal Pap smear results and other concerns can find help from Dr. Shruti Patel and the team at Low Cost Health Clinics.

Pap smear result basics

Short for Papanicolaou smear and also called a Pap test, this exam helps to screen for cancer cells, precancerous cells, and other abnormalities in your cervix that can lead to cancer. Early detection of these cells can help completely remove cancer before it causes significant damage to the cervix and any surrounding tissue and organs.

When you’ve had the test done, the results can be either normal with no evidence of abnormal cells, unclear, where the results are undetermined and repeated, or abnormal, where cells are unusual and possibly cancerous. 

What abnormal results indicate

The most important takeaway from this is understanding that abnormal results do not automatically mean cancer. These results can come from several different problems, including:

HPV

The human papillomavirus commonly causes abnormal results, more than any other problem, and while it can lead to cancer, it’s not the same as cancer. Approximately 90% of cases of HPV clear on their own with mild symptoms, but no long-term repercussions.

STDs

Another common reason for unusual results includes sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.

Yeast infections

Overgrowth of Candida albicans (also called candidosis, candidiasis, or thrush) occurs on the skin and in mucous membranes, including your mouth, gut, and vagina, and is also known as a yeast infection. This can also lead to abnormal Pap test results.

Menopause

These results can also come from the hormonal changes during menopause. When estrogen levels drop, cervical cells may change, mimicking the appearance of cancerous cells.

The next steps

A colposcopy, an examination that uses a colposcope to look at the cervix and vagina, frequently helps to get in close to find out what’s happening after an abnormal Pap test result. A biopsy can be performed during this procedure to further analyze cells, and once that’s complete, we can review the results and determine what the changes mean.

Since the results can vary for numerous reasons, specific treatments will depend on the cause of the cell changes. Abnormal results from a Pap smear can be alarming, but in many cases, there’s no reason to worry.

If you need a better understanding of what your Pap smear results mean, make an appointment with Dr. Patel and the Low Cost Health Clinics team today.