Abnormal Pap Smears: Should You Be Worried?

We’ve all heard of pap smears, but what does an abnormal pap smear really mean? It may sound scary, but with some information and the support of your Diana Health team, you’ll be ready to handle any pap smear result that comes your way. We are here to prepare you, not scare you. 

But first, brush up on everything you didn’t know you wanted to know about Pap Smears to get your basic FAQs answered about what a Pap Smear is and how it relates to cervical cancer.

Why are pap smears done? 

Although pap smears are done to help decrease the risk of getting cervical cancer (by detecting precancerous changes and treating them before they progress), an abnormal pap smear RARELY means that you have cervical cancer. This is why pap smears are so beneficial. They can usually detect changes in the cells of the cervix before they ever advance to full cervical cancer. If there are precancerous cells that have a high likelihood of progressing, the goal is for those cells to be removed before they would ever develop into cancer. 

What causes an abnormal pap?

The most common cause of an abnormal pap smear is a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the cervix. The human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted virus that is incredibly common. Sometimes cells that are infected with HPV can become abnormal. This is called dysplasia. Based upon the severity of how abnormal the cells are, treatment is sometimes appropriate to prevent them from progressing to cervical cancer. 

Abnormal pap smears can also be caused by other infections such as a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, or other sexually transmitted infections. Sometimes the cervix can become inflamed (cervicitis) which may lead to a pap smear being abnormal. Cervicitis can be due to an infection or if a woman has an allergic reaction or irritation from a pessary (a device sometimes used to treat urinary incontinence or prolapse) or spermicide. 

Sometimes pap smears are reported as “abnormal” due to factors that are completely harmless such as recent tampon use, vaginal intercourse, or a period. 

What do I need to do if I have an abnormal pap smear?

If you have an abnormal pap smear, your Diana Health team will let you know about next steps. Sometimes a repeat pap smear is done after a certain waiting period. At other times, a special examination called a colposcopy, may be indicated, so that your healthcare provider can better see your cervix and determine if treatment is appropriate.

At Diana Health, we believe that education is powerful and we want to empower all of our patients to optimize their health. We are here to engage in shared decision-making with you, so that you can decrease your risk of ever getting cervical cancer. If you do have an abnormal pap smear, don’t worry. Stay connected with your Diana Health team so that we can help you through this process and optimize your care. Has it been a while since you’ve had a Pap Smear? Book a Well Woman visit with us to discuss your risk for cervical cancer and complete a routine Pap Smear.