Sage-Tips

Has anyone ever had an abnormal Pap smear?

Most abnormal Pap smear results are nothing to worry about Most women will have at least one abnormal Pap smear result in their lifetime, with an overall average of 5\% of all Pap tests coming back as “abnormal.” In most cases, the abnormal result is nothing to worry about, but it’s important to follow up to make sure.

What happens when you have an irregular Pap smear?

What Happens After an Abnormal Pap Test? If your Pap test results are abnormal, your doctor may recommend a colposcopy. If you’re told that you need a colposcopy, don’t panic, says Coleman.

Should you worry about an abnormal Pap smear?

So the vast majority of abnormal pap smears that you might get a call about are actually not cancer. They are pre-cancerous conditions that we want to investigate a little bit further and can treat these little local areas in the cervix before they become cancer.

Does abnormal Pap always mean HPV?

Abnormal Pap Smears are typically caused by strains of the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV. An abnormal pap smear result does not mean you have cervical cancer. High risk strains can cause more serious cellular changes. Typically, both high and low risk strains of HPV go away within 24 months.

How common are irregular Pap smears?

Abnormal Pap tests are very common. In fact, of the 3 million women with abnormal Pap tests each year, less than 1\% (13,240 cases) will be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Can a yeast infection cause an abnormal Pap smear?

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and even yeast infections can cause a slightly abnormal pap smear. Your doctor will recommend the best course of action based on the results of your test. This can range from scheduling another Pap in three to six months, to getting a colposcopy.

What can cause an abnormal Pap smears besides HPV?

5 Common Reasons Your Pap Smear is Abnormal

• You forgot to observe the pre-Pap recommendations.
• There is a slightly irregular cell that is nothing to worry about.
• You have a yeast or bacterial infection.
• HPV and other STDs.
• Cervical Dysplasia.

Can a pap smear detect dormant HPV?

While dormant, the virus is inactive; it won’t be detected by testing and will not spread or cause any problems. However, the infection may then “re-emerge,” perhaps due to changes in the body’s immune system.

What can throw off a Pap smear?

You have a yeast or bacterial infection Inflammation caused by a yeast or bacterial infection can throw off a Pap smear result. Usually, either of these conditions would cause itching, burning, abnormal discharge, etc. However, low-grade versions may not be as noticeable.

Can stress cause abnormal Pap smears?

But she noted that many researchers speculate that stress may somehow be involved in cervical cancer because stressful times in women’s lives can often be associated with abnormal Pap smear results.

When should women stop having Pap smears?

Your last two Pap smears were normal.

One of these last Pap smears was in the last five years.

You have no history of precancerous changes.

Why no Pap smears after age 65?

If they are over age 65 with no history of cervical cancer can stop having Pap smears. Women without a cervix and no previous history of cervical cancer can stop having Pap smears done following a hysterectomy.

Why no Pap smear after 65?

If a woman is older than 65 years old and has had several negative pap smears in a row or has had a total hysterectomy for a non-cancerous condition like fibroids, your doctor may tell you that a Pap test is no longer needed. Protecting your eyes. Eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma, are common with age.

Should women over 70 get Pap smears?

Researchers Say Women Aged 70 and Over Account for More Than 1 in 10 Cases of Cervical Cancer March 8, 2011 (Orlando, Fla. ) — Women aged 70 and over should continue to get regular Pap smears to screen for cervical cancer, a study suggests. The study was presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer.