Understanding Your Pap Smear Results
You've been to the doctor for your annual Pap smear and about a week later the nurse calls and says that your results are abnormal. You are probably terrified wondering exactly what the results mean. I received such a call after my last Pap. The nurse didn't take time to explain anything, just said I needed another Pap in six months. Only when the six months rolled around and I had the repeat Pap done did the doctor tell me that my results indicated ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance).The second Pap was normal and the abnormal results were attributed to a bacterial infection. I wasn't frightened when this happened to me because I understood that it is very common to have these slightly abnormal Pap results. I understood these things because of my writing about women's health issues, and because my daughter had repeated abnormal Pap smears and follow up procedures and treatments from about the ages of fifteen to nineteen. Without these experiences, I imagine all sorts of thoughts of cervical cancer would have flooded my mind.
What should you do if your Pap smear results are abnormal?
- Ask for a copy
of the lab report.
- Ask for a
detailed explanation of the results.
- If you still
don't understand, ask more questions!
- Follow your
doctor's recommendations for followup screenings and/or
treatments.
- Remember, you always have the right to a second opinion if you are not comfortable with what is being said to you.
Next page What do my Pap smear results mean? page 1, 2, 3
