The National Cancer Institute reports that over 3.5 million American woman receive an abnormal pap smear result each year. Atypical pap smear results suggest abnormal cellular changes in the cervix. The cause of these changes requires evaluation by your gynecologist.
Pap Smear
The pap smear detects cell changes in the cervix. During a pap smear, your gynecologist collects a sample of cells from the mouth of the cervix. Sexually active women should have a pap smear every two years, according to the American Cancer Society.
Results
An abnormal pap smear result with atypical changes means there are changes in the cervix that may or may not become cervical cancer. The most common abnormal pap result is atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS).
Causes
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer, and women who receive an abnormal pap result with ASCUS should be tested for HPV. Other causes of an abnormal pap smear include inflammation, pregnancy and rarely cervical cancer.
Evaluation
Your doctor will perform a repeat pap smear to determine if the changes resolved on their own, in which case no treatment is necessary. No change indicates further evaluation, and a biopsy of the cervix may be performed to diagnose or rule out possible cervical cancer.
Prevention
Become vaccinated against the forms of HPV that cause cervical cancer. The CDC recommends that girls between the ages of 11 and 14 receive the vaccine, although a woman of any age can opt to take it.
Tags: cervical cancer, changes cervix, abnormal result, abnormal smear, abnormal smear result, cause cervical, cause cervical cancer
