My Pap Smear Results Were Abnormal: What’s Next?

About 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer pop up every year, and about 4,000 women succumb to it yearly. A Pap smear is a critical diagnostic tool that detects cervical cancer early on when treatment is most likely to cure the condition.

But it's scary to find out your Pap test came back abnormal, and you're probably wondering what's next. Dr. John Paul Roberts and our team offer treatment and advice after an abnormal Pap test to ease your mind.

Dr. Roberts is an experienced OB/GYN who provides compassionate care throughout every stage of life – from pregnancy to menopause and everything in between.

Does an abnormal Pap smear mean cancer?

Most women think of an abnormal Pap smear and assume cancer is imminent, but that's not the case. Although an abnormal Pap can detect cervical cancer, it's also a diagnostic tool for other issues.

For instance, some abnormal Pap tests are due to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that leads to abnormal-looking cervical cells. Other reasons for abnormal results include yeast infections and bacterial infections.

There are many reasons for an abnormal Pap smear that may not necessarily indicate anything. Hormone changes, recent sexual activity, and chronic inflammation can cause cells to appear abnormal on a Pap smear.

You don't have to be concerned if your Pap comes back abnormal. There are many reasons other than cancer that might cause your test to look suspicious.

What happens next in treatment?

If you get the call that your Pap test is abnormal, a million thoughts are probably running through your mind. You're likely scared and anxious about the next steps.

Try not to worry, though — Dr. Roberts helps you through every step of the process to determine why your test was abnormal. He brings you into the office for an appointment to discuss the next steps, depending on your test results.

He first discusses your family history and any symptoms you may be experiencing that could signal a higher risk for cervical cancer. If your Pap test showed abnormal cells or your HPV test was positive, Dr. Roberts schedules a colposcopy.

The colposcope is an instrument with magnifying glasses that Dr. Roberts uses during the pelvic exam to see abnormal areas within the cervix. If he sees an area, he takes a biopsy and sends it to a lab for further evaluation.

The steps after a biopsy

The biopsy results are crucial in the next steps in your care. Dr. Roberts reviews the results to determine what's next. Mild cervical cell changes don't usually require treatment and go away on their own.

Dr. Roberts may recommend that you return for follow-up Pap tests to monitor the cell changes. Moderate cell changes may require more frequent testing to ensure they don't change into cancerous cells. Pap tests with biopsies may be necessary every six months.

Significant cell changes require treatment to prevent the development of cancer. Dr. Roberts offers cold knife conization and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) to remove areas with abnormal cell development.

In some cases, a hysterectomy might be necessary if the cells develop into cancer. Dr. Roberts discusses these options if required.

Call our office in Plano, Texas, today to schedule a Pap appointment, or use our convenient online booking tool to request a consultation.