Abnormal Pap Smear Specialist

What is a Pap smear?

A Pap smear is a routine screening test for women that checks for cervical cancer. During the test, your provider at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, collects a sample of cells from your cervix and sends it to the lab for an evaluation.

Routine Pap smears help find changes in cervical cells early, which may prevent your risk of developing cervical cancer or improve your outcome if you have cervical cancer. 

Most Pap smear results are normal.

Most women start having Pap smears by age 21 and usually repeat them every three years. However, the team at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, may recommend more frequent testing if you have a history of abnormal Pap smears or a family history of cervical cancer. 

What is an abnormal Pap smear?

An abnormal Pap smear means the lab found changes in your cervical cells. Though you may feel concerned, an abnormal Pap smear doesn’t mean you have cervical cancer. 

The findings by the lab indicate changes in the normal cells. 

What does an abnormal Pap smear mean?

An abnormal Pap smear means you have abnormal cervical cells. The results may range from mild to severe.

Types of abnormal cervical cells include:

Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)

ASCUS means you have slight changes in your cervical cells, but these changes may not indicate cancer. 

Squamous intraepithelial lesion

Squamous intraepithelial lesion means the cells collected during your Pap smear may be precancerous.

Atypical glandular cells

The glandular cells in your cervix produce mucus. Atypical glandular cells mean these cells are slightly abnormal but not cancerous. 

Squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma cells

Squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma cells means your Pap smear results found cancerous cells. 

What happens after an abnormal Pap smear?

No matter what type of cells the lab found, the Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, team performs additional testing following an abnormal Pap smear. 

Testing usually includes a colposcopy, a diagnostic procedure that allows your provider at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, to closely examine the lining of your cervix and obtain additional tissue samples. 

The Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, team determines the best treatment for your abnormal Pap smear following the results of your colposcopy. 

To discuss your abnormal Pap smear and treatment options, call Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, or schedule an appointment online today.