ABNORMAL PAP SMEARS

We recommend that women have their first Pap smear at age 21, or earlier if they are sexually active.

Pap tests are performed routinely during a pelvic examination to identify abnormal cells from the cervix and other reproductive organs. The doctor scrapes a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope.

Cervical cancer often has no symptoms until it has spread. A Pap test makes early detection possible, but problems other than cancer, such as precancerous cell changes or an infection of the cervix or vagina, can also cause an abnormal test result.

If you have an abnormal Pap test result, your healthcare provider may want to repeat the test later and treat any infections in the meantime. If the abnormality persists, the doctor may order a biopsy and/or closer examination. Patients whose Pap smears contain cancerous cells are referred for more tests.

More information on cancer detection is available from the American Cancer Society’s website.

For more information on abnormal pap smears, visit the website of American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology.