Understanding Cervical Changes - National Cancer Institute


Introduction


What Is the Cervix?


What Should I Know About HPV Infection?


Finding Abnormal Cells


What Do My Pap Test Results Mean?


Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider


Finding the Support You Need


Table 1


Table 2


Table 3


Table 4


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What Do My Pap Test Results Mean?

Why Did I Get an Unclear Result?
Is It All Right if I Don't Get Tested Again Right Away?

Your Pap test results could be normal, meaning only normal cells were found, or abnormal. The term "abnormal" could mean many different things:

Your test was unclear
Your test showed you have an HPV infection
Your test showed precancer
Your test showed cancer

See Table 1 for more information about what these results mean and what your health care provider might recommend you do next. If you have an abnormal result from your Pap test, it's very important that you get follow-up care and any needed tests or treatment as suggested by your health care provider.

How you can help improve the chances that your Pap test results will be correct:

Don't have a Pap test when your menstrual period is heavy. The best time to schedule a Pap test is between 10 and 20 days after the start of your period.
For about 2 days before a Pap test, do not:
- Douche
- Use any creams or medicine in your vagina unless your doctor tells you to do so. These may wash away cells or hide cells with changes.
Don't have sexual intercourse for 1 or 2 days prior to your Pap test. This may cause unclear results.

"My doctor helped explain what my Pap test results meant, and what I needed to do."
GRETCHEN, AGE 60

Why Did I Get an Unclear Result?

The Pap test is a very good screening test. But no test is perfect, including the Pap test. There are a lot of reasons why you might get an unclear result.

Not enough cells: The lab sample may not contain enough cells with changes. This can happen if the area of tissue with changes is very small or hard to reach. It can also happen if not enough cells are put on the slide for the lab.
Cells are clumped together: The lab sample has too many cells clumped together or hidden by blood or mucus.

Any of these things can make changes hard to spot. Changes that are missed once are often found the next time. Having another Pap test can help get a clear result.

Is It All Right if I Don't Get Tested Again Right Away?

Changes in the cervix happen very slowly. So a few months' delay in getting another test usually does not mean the difference between getting cancer and not getting cancer.

More serious problems can develop when you do not have regular Pap tests or when you do not go back to your health care provider for care after an abnormal result.

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