An abnormal Pap smear does NOT mean that you have
cervical cancer. Cervical cancer develops through many different stages
of abnormality and usually does this slowly enough that yearly screening
is sufficient to detect it at an early stage. Certain infections can cause
the pap smear to be abnormal. Cervicitis caused by bacteria can produce
changes in the cervix which yield an abnormal test. A virus called HPV
, which can also cause cervical warts, is thought to create changes in
the cells of the cervix which can lead to cervical cancer, and so give
you an abnormal pap smear. If your doctor tells you that you have an abnormal
pap smear, she/he will probably recommend that you have a repeat test done
in three months, depending on the level of the abnormality. During this
waiting period you may be asked to use a medication to treat an infection
if this is appropriate to your results. If the repeat test is also abnormal,
or if the initial test warrants it, you will be scheduled for Colposcopy,
which involves your doctor using a colposcope to better visualize your
cervix. A colposcope is a microscope with a light on it that helps your
gynecologist to see areas that appear abnormal, and during this examination
small biopsies may be taken of suspicious areas, if any are seen. Depending
on the results of these biopsies, treatment options will be discussed with
you. The various treatments available are beyond the scope of this discussion,
but most involve preserving your uterus unless the changes have progressed
to cancer.