A Pap smear is a gynecological procedure to detect changes in the cervix that may become cancerous. If these changes are found, the Pap test is called abnormal and your doctor will recommend further testing.
Pap Test Results
A Pap smear tests the thin layer of tissue covering the cervix for abnormal or damaged cells. An abnormal result is indicative of early pre-cancer changes called dysplasia and is graded as mild, moderate or severe.
First Step After Abnormal Result
In most cases, the first step after receiving an abnormal Pap result is a repeat Pap test. Sometimes, cervical changes will go away on their own, and if a woman receives two normal Pap tests in a year, she can return to the routine Pap test schedule.
Further testing
If the second Pap test is abnormal, further testing is needed. First, the doctor will perform a colposcopy, a magnification of the cervix. If abnormal cells are seen during this test, a doctor may decide to do a biopsy, in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the cervix and sent to a lab to be studied.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the result of the further testing. For mild dysplasia, the patient is usually monitored with more frequent Pap tests. Several techniques are used to treat moderate and severe dysplasia, including freezing, laser treatment and cone biopsy.
Causes
The main cause of abnormal Pap results is Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease that has been linked to cervical cancer.
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