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What can abnormal smears mean?

Author

James Craig

Updated on March 03, 2026

What can abnormal smears mean?

Most often, the abnormal test result means there have been cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). That's the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and can be linked to cervical cancer. Changes to your cervical cells caused by HPV can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Similarly, what happens if your smear test is abnormal?

Colposcopy. If your cervical screening test shows abnormal cells, you may have a different test to look closely at your cervix. This is called a colposcopy. This test uses a microscope called a colposcope to look closely at your cervix.

Subsequently, question is, are abnormal Pap smears common? Most of the abnormal cells found during a Pap test are the result of a cervical or vaginal infection and are not cancerous. 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.

Similarly one may ask, what can cause an abnormal Pap smears besides HPV?

When HPV causes abnormal cell changes on the cervix this is called cervical dysplasia. It is important to note that there are other reasons besides HPV for abnormal Pap smear results such as infection, although the most common reason for abnormal Pap smear results is HPV.

Should I be worried about abnormal smear test?

Basically, an abnormal smear comes about from a change in the cells of your cervix. It does not mean you have cancer. It can take up to 20 years for cancer to develop and that's only IF the cervical cancer is activated.

What happens if you are HPV positive?

A positive test result means that you have a type of high-risk HPV that's linked to cervical cancer. It doesn't mean that you have cervical cancer now, but it's a warning sign that cervical cancer could develop in the future.

Does having HPV mean your partner cheated?

HPV is very common, and if you're sexually active, it's one of the risks you face. It doesn't mean that you or your partner (or previous partners) did anything wrong. Partners tend to share strains of the virus between them, which means it's almost impossible to know where the infection started.

Do abnormal smear results come back quicker?

And the results come back a lot quicker. It used to take at least six weeks for the results to come back on the old way. But on this new one, it usually takes two to three weeks which I find is nice for, for everybody, especially if they worry about having smears and what the results can be or will be.

What does abnormal cervix cells mean?

An abnormal cervical screening test result means that you have changes in the cells covering the neck of your womb (cervix). These changes are not cancer. The cells often go back to normal by themselves.

Can abnormal cervical cells go away on their own?

Although it's common to feel uneasy, you should know that most women who have abnormal cervical screening test results do not have cervical cancer. Most have early cell changes that can be monitored (since they often go away on their own) or treated early (to prevent problems later).

What happens if I have abnormal cervical cells?

An abnormal cervical screening test result means that you have changes in the cells covering the neck of your womb (cervix). Abnormal cervical cells are not the same as cervical cancer. If left untreated, there is a risk that some abnormal cells could go on to develop into cervical cancer in the future.

What happens if colposcopy is abnormal?

You may need treatment if the results of your colposcopy show that there are abnormal cells in your cervix. The abnormal cells will be removed, which usually involves removing an area of the cervix about the size of a finger tip.

How are abnormal cervical cells treated?

Abnormal cells in the cervix can also be treated with: cryotherapy – the abnormal cells are frozen and destroyed (this is only used to treat minor cell changes) laser treatment – a laser is used to pinpoint and destroy abnormal cells on your cervix.

Should I be worried if I have HPV?

Nope. HPV is passed by skin to skin contact of the genital area so anyone who has ever been sexually active can have HPV. It is more common in young, sexually active people, however, the immune system will usually clear the infection so this isn't really something to worry about.

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.

What are the symptoms of HPV in females?

But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower.

What is the next step after an abnormal pap smear?

“I Received an Abnormal Pap Test. What's Next?” Your next step is usually a minor procedure called a colposcopy. This procedure is a visual examination of the cervix using a low-powered microscope used to find and then biopsy abnormal areas in your cervix that may lead to cervical cancer.

How do you get rid of high risk HPV?

What's the treatment for high-risk HPV

Cryotherapy — a treatment to freeze and remove precancerous cells from the cervix. LEEP or Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure — a treatment to remove precancerous cells from the cervix with an electrical current.

How long does HPV take to cause abnormal cells?

And if the changes are discovered during cervical screening, treatment is highly successful. The progression from HPV infection to developing CIN or CGIN and then cervical cancer is very slow, often taking 10 to 20 years.

What does it mean to have a normal Pap smear but test positive for HPV?

If a patient has a normal pap smear that tests positive for high risk HPV, we can then specifically check for 2 types of high risk HPV that are most associated with precancerous cervical changes, types 16 and 18.

Can sperm cause abnormal Pap smear?

Inflammation, irritation and/or semen can affect Pap smear results. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). This is another STD that causes genital warts.

How long does it take for HPV to cause an abnormal pap?

Mean times to progression from ASCUS to HSIL or cancer for women with oncogenic HPV infections were 73.4 months and 80.4 months in older and younger women, respectively (difference = 7.0 months, 95% CI = –10.2 to 24.2 months).

What is the most common reason for an abnormal Pap smear?

Most often, the abnormal test result means there have been cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). That's the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and can be linked to cervical cancer. Changes to your cervical cells caused by HPV can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Why do I keep having abnormal Pap smears?

Most abnormal Pap tests are caused by HPV infections. Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells.

Can an abnormal Pap smear be the cause of a pregnancy?

Topic Overview. Pregnancy does not seem to increase the progression of abnormal cervical cell changes. The presence of abnormal cervical cell changes or HPV does not affect the outcome of the pregnancy.

What happens if you have precancerous cells in cervix?

Precancerous conditions of the cervix are changes to cervical cells that make them more likely to develop into cancer. These conditions are not yet cancer. But if they aren't treated, there is a chance that these abnormal changes may become cervical cancer.

How do you get HPV positive?

Information: HPV is a common virus and most people will get it at some point. You can get it through any kind of sexual contact.

Can abnormal cells come back?

Sometimes cell changes (abnormal cells) come back after treatment. These are also called persistent or recurrent cell changes. Finding out that cell changes have come back can be tough.

How painful is a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is nearly pain-free. You might feel pressure when the speculum goes in. It might also sting or burn a little when they wash your cervix with the vinegar-like solution.

Can HPV be positive and then negative?

The most common reason for a negative Pap test with a positive HPV result is that the patient has an HPV infection, but the infection is not causing any cellular abnormalities.

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