Why Should I Get an Ultrasound for Pelvic Pain?
Do you suffer from pelvic pain? An ultrasound is a safe way to assess your organs and the structures within your pelvis and help your medical professional determine a diagnosis.
What Are the Next Steps After Abnormal Pap Test Results?
You always get your Pap smear when you’re due, as part of your well-woman wellness exam. You know that Pap smears have saved countless women from cervical cancer deaths since the test was introduced into clinical care in the 1940s.
That’s why you’re shocked when your results come back positive, which means that the laboratory discovered abnormal cells in the sample that your doctor took from your cervix. You thought you were healthy. You thought you were doing everything right. Do you now have cancer?
Our expert OB/GYNs test for cervical cancer using both Pap smears and tests for the human papillomavirus (HPV) that, in almost all cases, causes it. At Eve Medical of Miami, in Miami, Florida, we help you understand what it means when your Pap smear is abnormal.
Have you had an abnormal Pap smear? Here are the next things that might happen.
“Abnormal” doesn’t necessarily mean cancer
First of all, if you’ve had regular Pap smears throughout your adulthood, it’s highly unlikely that a single abnormal result means that you have cancer. You may, instead, have an HPV infection. Or, you could have cellular changes that go away on their own with a watch-and-wait strategy.
Even if your abnormal cells are cancerous or precancerous, we’ve probably caught them early enough that they can be treated or cured. If you get an abnormal result on your first Pap smear, or if you’ve neglected several rounds of Pap smears, your risk for cancer may be slightly raised.
Don’t ignore an abnormal result
The main thing is, you shouldn’t ignore an abnormal result. If your Pap smear comes back as abnormal, we may recommend:
- A second Pap smear
- A colposcopy
- An HPV test
- Another Pap smear in three years
We’re with you every step of the way, whether that means watch and wait or whether that means retesting and treatment.
Next steps
There’s no single answer to what the next step is after an abnormal Pap smear. The answer depends partly on what type of cells are found. It also depends on whether you have an HPV infection. Even your age factors in.
We let you know what type of cells are found, and each type comes with its own recommendations.
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US)
The most common type of abnormal Pap result is called atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US). Although some cells look abnormal, they could be caused by a yeast infection, uterine polyps, or even hormonal changes.
We may give you an HPV test. If it’s negative, we may prescribe estrogen cream to balance your hormones, and then see you again for another Pap in a few years. If it’s positive, you may need follow-up tests.
Atypical glandular cells (AGC)
If your glandular cells don’t look normal, you may have a serious problem inside your uterus. We may ask you to return for a colposcopy, so we can take a closer look at your cervix and uterus.
Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL)
Low-grade changes are usually caused by an HPV infection. We may recommend further testing, including another Pap or colposcopy.
High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL)
These cells may become cancerous if they’re not treated. We recommend a colposcopy. During your colposcopy, we may remove tissue that has HSIL.
Atypical squamous cells
Another result is called atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H). The lab found abnormal squamous cells that could possibly be HSIL. We take a closer look with colposcopy.
Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)
An adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) is a precancerous lesion. It may develop into cervical adenocarcinoma (cancer) without treatment. We recommend colposcopy for further investigation and treatment.
Cervical cancer cells
It’s very rare to find actual cervical cancer cells if you’re been regularly screened with Pap smears. However, if we find cancerous cells, we order tests to determine if the cancer has spread to other body parts. We also refer you to an oncologist.
Don’t worry if your Pap smear is abnormal; find out what it means and take the next right steps to safeguard your health by calling our friendly and caring team today. You can also use our online form to set up a consultation or to book your next Pap smear or HPV test.
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