| Possible
Test or
Treatment |
What It Is |
What To Expect |
What Your Health
Care Provider May
Recommend |
| Repeat Pap
test |
- Same procedure as the first Pap test
- Done if you have minor cell changes
|
Same procedure as the first Pap test |
You may need to return
for repeat Pap tests every
4-6 months until you
have two normal results
in a row.
After two normal results
in a row, you can go
back to having Pap tests
at least once every 3
years. |
| HPV testing |
- A sample of cells from your cervix is tested in the
lab. This looks for HPV
DNA
in the cells.
|
Similar to a Pap test |
If the test shows that
you have HPV, your
health care provider may
recommend a
colposcopy. |
| Hormone
therapy |
- An estrogen cream applied to your vagina/cervix for
a few weeks
- Prescribed by your doctor if you have ASC-US and
are near or past menopause
|
Cell changes caused by low hormone
levels will go away, and changes that are due
to lesions will remain. |
A repeat Pap test is done
after 6-8 weeks.
If the results of the
repeat Pap test are
abnormal again, your
health care provider may
recommend a
colposcopy. |
| Colposcopy |
- The most common test for women who get an
abnormal Pap test result
- Your health care provider uses a special tool called a
colposcope
to view your cervix from outside the
body. The colposcope has a bright light with a
magnifying lens.
|
Can be done in your health care provider's
office in about 15 minutes
Your health care provider:
- Puts a speculum into your vagina to see
your cervix
- Applies diluted white vinegar to the surface
of your cervix
Areas that are abnormal turn white from the
vinegar and can be seen more easily.
You may feel nothing at all or a mild tingling.
|
Depending on the
results, your health
care provider may
recommend further tests
or treatments. |
| Colposcopy
with biopsy
and/or
endocervical
curettage |
- Done if the colposcopy found any abnormal tissue
in your cervix (see previous page)
- For the biopsy, your health care provider will
remove a small piece of tissue from the abnormal
area. This specimen is sent to a lab for study.
- For the endocervical curettage, your health care
provider removes cells from inside your endocervical
canal with a small spoon-shaped tool called a
curette; this takes about 10 seconds. This specimen
is sent to a lab for study.
|
May cause mild pain and cramping (much like
menstrual cramps)
You may have less pain and cramping if you
take ibuprofen (brand names include Advil®,
Motrin®, and Nuprin®) about an hour before
the test.
You may have a brown discharge from your
vagina for a few days afterward; you may want
to wear a pad.
It takes several days for your cervix to heal. To
help prevent infection and bleeding during this
time:
- Do not use tampons.
- Do not douche.
- Do not do any heavy lifting.
- Do not have sex.
|
Depending on the
results, your health
care provider may
recommend further tests
and/or treatments. |
