Abnormal Pap test results do not mean you have cancer, so your doctor must do other tests to find out what should happen next. Your doctor may do another Pap test right away or, if the cell changes are minor, wait 6 months or a year before doing another Pap test.
If the test finds more serious changes in the cells of your cervix, your doctor will do more tests, such as a colposcopy and biopsy. What is a colposcopy?
Get tips for women about quitting smoking at women. Problems with your immune system caused by certain medicines or health problems, such as diabetes , cancer , HIV , or autoimmune diseases. Do Pap tests have risks? Although Pap tests are very safe, they do have limits. The Pap test may not find abnormal cells that are actually there.
This means your doctor may tell you your cervical cells are normal, but the test missed a problem with the cells. This can delay the discovery and treatment of abnormal cells of the cervix. But having regular Pap tests increases your chances of finding problems.
Cervical cancer usually takes many years — on average 10 to 20 years — to develop. Therefore, it is important to have Pap tests on the recommended schedule for your age and medical history. The Pap test results may report abnormal cells that are not really there.
This means your doctor may tell you that your cervical cells are abnormal, but they are actually normal. There is no way to know that the cells are normal without further testing. Therefore, your doctor may do another Pap test or a different test to find out more. What do my HPV test results mean? How can I lower my chances of getting cervical cancer? You can lower your chances of getting cervical cancer in several ways: Get regular Pap tests. Regular Pap tests help your doctor find cell changes and treat any unhealthy cells before they turn into cancer.
Get the HPV vaccine. Cervical cancer is usually caused by types of HPV that are passed from person to person through genital contact. If HPV does not go away on its own, it can cause changes in the cells of the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. Take steps to lower your risk. If you have sex, lower your risk of getting HPV with the following steps: Use condoms.
Condoms are the best way to prevent STIs when you have sex. HPV can happen in female and male genital areas that are not protected by condoms. But research shows that condom use is linked to lower cervical cancer rates. Make sure to put the condom on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth, or anus.
Other methods of birth control , like birth control pills, shots, implants, or diaphragms , will not protect you from HPV or other STIs. Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are tested for STIs. Talk to each other about the test results before you have sex.
Be monogamous. Having sex with only one partner can lower your risk of STIs. After being tested for STIs, be faithful to each other. That means that you have sex only with each other and no one else. Limit your number of sex partners. Your risk of getting STIs goes up with the number of sexual partners you have.
Do not douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protect you from infection. This may increase your risk of getting STIs. Be aware of how much alcohol you drink and keep control of your own drink. Some people use alcohol or drugs as a way to make a person drunk or high. Someone who is drunk, drugged, or high on drugs is unable to consent or understand what is happening. This puts you at risk of sexual assault and possible exposure to STIs. These steps work best when used together.
No single step can protect you from cervical cancer. Most insurance plans cover Pap and HPV tests with no copay, coinsurance, or deductible. If you have Medicaid, the benefits covered are different in each state, but certain benefits must be covered. Did we answer your question about Pap and HPV tests? Sources Van Dyne, E. Trends in human papillomavirus—associated cancers — United States, — Viens, L. Human papillomavirus—associated cancers — United States, Dobbs, S. Does histological incomplete excision of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia following large loop excision of transformation zone increase recurrence rates?
A six year cytological follow up. All rights reserved. Skip Navigation. I Want To I Want to Find Research Faculty Enter the last name, specialty or keyword for your search below. Apply for Admission M. We educate our patients and encourage them to ask us questions, so that they are clear on what tests they should have done, at what age, and why.
Show me more I want to Next, a sample of cells from your cervix is collected using a small cone-shaped brush and a tiny plastic spatula 1 and 2. Your doctor then rinses the brush and spatula in a liquid-filled vial 3 and sends the vial to a laboratory for testing. A Pap smear involves collecting cells from your cervix — the lower, narrow end of your uterus that's at the top of your vagina.
Detecting cervical cancer early with a Pap smear gives you a greater chance at a cure. A Pap smear can also detect changes in your cervical cells that suggest cancer may develop in the future. Detecting these abnormal cells early with a Pap smear is your first step in halting the possible development of cervical cancer. The Pap smear is usually done in conjunction with a pelvic exam. In women older than age 30, the Pap test may be combined with a test for human papillomavirus HPV — a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer.
In some cases, the HPV test may be done instead of a Pap smear. You and your doctor can decide when it's time for you to begin Pap testing and how often you should have the test. Women age 30 and older can consider Pap testing every five years if the procedure is combined with testing for HPV. Or they might consider HPV testing instead of the Pap test. If you have certain risk factors, your doctor may recommend more-frequent Pap smears, regardless of your age.
These risk factors include:. You and your doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of Pap smears and decide what's best for you based on your risk factors. After a total hysterectomy. After a total hysterectomy — surgical removal of the uterus including the cervix — ask your doctor if you need to continue having Pap smears. If your hysterectomy was performed for a noncancerous condition, such as uterine fibroids, you may be able to discontinue routine Pap smears.
But if your hysterectomy was for a precancerous or cancerous condition of the cervix, your doctor may recommend continuing routine Pap testing. Older age. Doctors generally agree that women can consider stopping routine Pap testing at age 65 if their previous tests for cervical cancer have been negative. Discuss your options with your doctor and together you can decide what's best for you based on your risk factors.
If you're sexually active with multiple partners, your doctor may recommend continuing Pap testing. A Pap smear is a safe way to screen for cervical cancer. However, a Pap smear isn't foolproof.
It's possible to receive false-negative results — meaning that the test indicates no abnormality, even though you do have abnormal cells. A false-negative result doesn't mean that a mistake was made. Factors that can cause a false-negative result include:. Although it's possible for abnormal cells to go undetected, time is on your side. Cervical cancer takes several years to develop.
And if one test doesn't detect the abnormal cells, the next test most likely will. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina vaginal canal make up the female reproductive system.
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