Reasons for Bad Pap Smears
A Pap smear screening test looks for atypical cells in the cervix-the lower part of the uterus. A doctor typically refers to a "bad" Pap smear result as "abnormal," meaning that atypical cells exist.
ASCUS and AGUS
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) are two possible Pap results, indicating irregularities in some of the surface (squamous) cells of the cervix or of the mucus-producing cells of the uterus. The possible impact of these cells is unknown, according to MedlinePlus.
LSIL/HSIL
Low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions may be precancerous; high-grade lesions are more likely to develop into cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cancer
The results of a Pap smear can strongly indicate cancer of squamous cervical cells or glandular uterine cells, the Mayo Clinic reports.
False Positive
A Pap smear may occasionally indicate abnormal cells are present when the cells are actually normal, according to WomensHealth.org.
Significance
Further testing typically follows an abnormal Pap test to determine if there is a danger present from the atypical cells found, reports MedlinePlus.
Considerations
According to WomensHealth.gov, most abnormal Pap smear results do not indicate that a woman has cervical cancer.
Tags: atypical cells, cells undetermined, cells undetermined significance, Mayo Clinic, Reasons Smears