Help..I had an abnormal pap smear....?

Question

I got a letter in the mail yesterday that my pap smear came back abnormal. All my pap smears have always been normal. The letter said that an abnormal pap smear is usually NOT associated w/ cancer, but rather w/ very early precancerous changes in the cervix, or more commonly, w/ some type of infection or irritation. In order to determine the cause of this slight abnormality, I have to have another pelvic exam, looking for any causes of the abnormal cells. I tried calling the Dr. right after I opened the letter, at 4:50 & they already had the answering machine on when they were originally supposed to be open until 5:00. I recently have been tested for STD's & all my tests have come back fine. I have been a complete wreck & very stressed out about all of this. I have to wait until Mon. to talk to my Dr. I'll have to wait until I get an appt. & for the results. Unfortunately there have been a few people that I had unprotected sex with-but now I always use a condom. Feedback-thx

Answer 1

I had one of these a couple years ago. It usually means that you have HPV, human paploma virus. Basically, 80% of the worlds population has it.

What will probably happen is you will go into the doctor and they will do a biopsy (take some tissue from your cervix to test it). You will have to wear a pad for a week or two to catch the bleeding, no tampons.

Then if they decide to, they can (forgot what it was called) freeze off the affected cells from your cervix. Again, you'll be wearing a pad for a week or two to catch the fluids, no tampons.

Then you usually go in for pap tests every 6 months instead of once a year until the tests become normal.

I had to go in twice to get this done, 2 years later my pap tests are normal.

Its nothing to be scared of, I would just have someone to take to the doctor with you to support you. I was really scared at first, but I'm perfectly fine now. Its ok to be a little afraid, but this is not the end of the world. In most women, this eventually just goes away and you don't ever have to deal with it again.

Answer 2

Concentrate on your breathing...take a deep breath...hold for 5 seconds....slowly let it out.

Now, let your blood pressure, heart rate and temperature return to normal.

Don't worry about it. It is probably nothing. There are many things that can interfere with a pap smear. Slight traces of blood, slides prepared incorrectly, having sex to close to your exam, yeast infection...

It was more likely to be caused by something interfering with the pap smear than by something wrong with you.

I've had two abnormal pap smears, but it turned out to be nothing both times. It could have been a sleepy person reading the slide.

My point is, don't worry this happens all the time.

Answer 3

IT DOESN'T "USUALLY" MEAN ANYTHING. Everybody is different and every irregular pap smear is different. It could be something as serious as an STD (like HPV) OR it could be something as totally unserious as they need to re-swab because they didn't get enough cells to do a thorough test! You did make a bad choice in the past, and hopefully it won't have long-term consequences. Remember the stress you're feeling right now the next time you think about not using protection! (And call your doctor right back on Monday!)

Answer 4

usually not a big deal. urinary track infection, yeast infection. Or maybe just nothing at all. HPV is a virus that many women have. It can form cancer or just do nothing. Its ok my sister had an abnormal test and nothing was wrong.
Just make sure when you go to the dr. you have them do a test for crevical cancer. The test is just a blood test and that is more accurate that any pap for that problem. Do that every 6 months just for peace of mind.

Answer 5

an abmornal pap can mean SO many things. It could just be a yeast infection or a small change in your bodys PH. Try not to stress about it until you go back to the doctor.

Answer 6

there is a book you can get an or order at you library or in you case you may want to purchase it because you may have on going questions im not positive of the exact name,
"all you need to know about hpv that your doctor wont tell you " its been a long time since i got this book for a close relative it gave info on all the tests you need how to read them what to expect from each test ,how it Will affect pregnancies ,partners male or female, condoms wont help its a skin to skin contact thing you don't evan have to have intercourse this book Will tell you about cancer and your risk and your risk for warts the absolute most informative book we were able to find and the title meant what it said because the doctor was more than surprised at what we knew that she wasn't telling us thank god for this book it may have saved her life because she didn't put off medical care that she didn't take seriously enough now she is on a crusade to teach young girls about hpv she has written to dear Abby to the news papers to Congress nd any one esle she can she to try to get them to teach about this in schools,
( elementry)also keeps up on all the info she can fom planned parent hood and has been trying to find a way to teach other about preventing hpv by the new inoculations..well good luck and most important be informed ..your life may depend on it

Answer 7

My wife just went through this. she was scared out of her mind. we talked to everyone that would talk to us.we found out that 95% of the time you dont real have anything to worry about. it could just be a yeast infection that was picked up on the pap. that was what happend to us. but you do need to get checked for HPV. this can lead to cancer. so get yourself checked.

Answer 8

happens 2 every one at least once in their life and u have 2 take a 2nd one....and it might come bk normal....dont stress until u get the results from the 2nd 1

Answer 9

sorry to hear that well dont strees to much until u know what's really happening and trust in god that everything will be fine..