|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
If your pap test results show that some of your cervical cells look abnormal, you're probably wondering why. Actually, your doctor might be wondering the same thing. That's because lots of things can cause changes to the cervix that can lead to abnormal pap test results, including:
|
 |
Cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) |
|
 |
Recent sexual activity |
|
 |
Douching |
|
 |
Yeast or other infections, including sexual infections |
|
|
Herpes |
|
|
Pregnancy, miscarriage or abortion |
|
|
Medications |
|
|
Hormonal changes |
|
|
Non—cervical-cancer causing types of HPV |
|
What to do next
If the changes present in your cells are mild, your doctor may recommend that you simply repeat the pap test. If an infection is present, he or she may recommend treatment and then repeat the pap test. That's because mild cell changes often simply heal on their own. If abnormal cells are still present after a few months, your doctor will typically do further follow-up.
If your pap test results are slightly abnormal, your doctor may suggest an HPV DNA test, which is usually done using the same sample of cells from your pap test. This test is often performed automatically. If the HPV DNA test results are negative, no cells were found containing cancer-causing HPV, so further immediate testing isn't typically necessary. If the test is positive, it means you may have high-risk HPV, which can cause Cervical Cancer.
Your doctor may also want to do a colposcopy, an exam that tells him or her more about the condition of the cervix. In other cases, your doctor may decide to go ahead with a colposcopy without ordering an HPV DNA test first.
What is a colposcopy?
A colposcopy allows your doctor to see changes in the cells of the cervix up close. Just as with a pap test, you lie on the exam table and your doctor inserts an instrument called a speculum into the vaginal opening to get a look at the cervix. During a colposcopy, your doctor will use a lighted microscope called a colposcope to magnify the cervical tissue and look for abnormal cells.
The exam may be somewhat uncomfortable, but typically lasts only about ten minutes. If your doctor does find abnormal areas, he or she may do a biopsy, sometimes numbing the cervix and then taking very small tissue samples. You may have some cramping or discomfort during the procedure and light spotting afterward.
During the biopsy, your doctor may also use a special speculum and take a scraping of cells from the inside of your cervix to see if it shows anything abnormal.
Although most cervical cell changes take years to progress from precancerous to cancerous if left unchecked, cancer found in glandular cells tends to be more aggressive, so if your doctor does find any of these type of changes, they may be more likely than other cervical cell changes to be cancerous. The scraping may cause brief cramps and light bleeding. Any tissue samples will then be sent to a pathologist for diagnosis.
Once you learn the results
If you have abnormal cell changes your doctor and you can work together to decide how to proceed. By being as informed as possible about Cervical Cancer, you can be a more active participant in your own care. Don’t be shy—feel free to ask your doctor any questions and to find out what all your options for treatment are so you can be sure you’re doing all you can to take care of yourself. |
|
|
Ask the Expert: 
