What Exactly Does An Abnormal Pap Smear Result MEAN?

Ok, you had a pap smear a few weeks ago and when you called up to get the results they stopped you in your tracks: Abnormal. What the hell does that mean?

Well, just take a few deep breaths, because it’s not as bad as you might think. Sure, the Big C is floating around in your mind, and mortality has suddenly become the centre of your focus, but did you know that almost all abnormal pap smear results are not due to cancer?

Yep, there are a number of things that can cause abnormal pap smear results. Not all of these are problems that need treatment, but those that do can usually be treated pretty easily and with high success rates. We’re going to look at the different kinds of abnormalities that show up on pap smear results, and what that means for you.

Low Grade Abnormality

So your doctor has told you that you have a ‘low grade abnormality.’ Admittedly, it doesn’t sound that bad, but any abnormality is enough to make you worried.

Well you don’t need to stress too much. A low grade abnormality is most likely to be an infection with HPV. This means it’s a viral infection, so not cancer.

HPV is such a common sexually transmitted virus, with four out of five people contracting it at some point in their lives. You could have got your infection just recently, or even a number of months or years ago. Your body will need to clear the infection for your pap smear results to return to normal, which can be done in one to two years.

Now, for a small number of women, the HPV does not clear and stays in the cervix. In these cases, there is a risk that over time, abnormalities will develop that will lead to cancer if they’re not treated. That’s why you’ll need to monitor your own HPV infection with a repeat pap smear, usually within 12 months, to see if the infection has cleared up. If it hasn’t, you’ll be referred for a colposcopy. We’ll talk more about that in a minute.

High Grade Abnormality

Admittedly, the words ‘high grade abnormality’ do sound a bit more threatening, so let’s look into it a bit more.

The most likely reason for getting a high grade abnormality result is a persistent HPV infection. Left over a longer period of time, persistent HPV infections can cause cancer, which is why women with a high grade abnormality will be referred for a colposcopy.

A colposcopy is an examination that is similar to a pap smear. A speculum is used so a specialist can see the cervix, but the examination also involves a colposcope, which is an instrument like a microscope. This magnifies the cervix so the cells are more clear, but the colposcope is not inserted into the body, nor does it touch the body. If the colposcopy confirms the high grade abnormality, you will then be sent for a biopsy. However, if the procedure confirms that you have a low grade abnormality, you will not generally require a biopsy.

Glandular Abnormality

A glandular abnormality is an issue with the glandular cells of the cervix. These are located on the canal of the cervix, and abnormalities in this area are pretty common.

Due to the rare nature of these abnormalities, studies on glandular abnormalities are still being undertaken, but it is generally accepted that HPV can cause glandular abnormalities.

If your pap smear results indicate a glandular abnormality, you will need to be investigated. This will involve a colposcopy, and depending on the results of that, a biopsy. A pap smear is not the best way to diagnose problems in the glandular cells, so you can pretty much guarantee that an abnormality here will be looked into by your doctors.

About HPV

If you have been given an abnormal result from your pap smear, and you’ve been told that it’s due to a HPV infection, you’re likely wondering what HPV is, how you got it, and what it means to have it.

HPV is also known as human papilloma virus. As we briefly mentioned before, HPV is a very common virus, with almost everyone getting it at some point in their lives. In some cases, having HPV does increase the risk of cervical cancer, but this is not true in all cases. Many people confuse HPV with herpes, but the two are not related and having HPV does not mean you also have herpes.

There are over 100 different types of the HPV virus, and some of these affect the genitals and cervix. It’s spread through skin to skin contact, and you having HPV does not mean that your partner may have cheated with you. Like we said, HPV is very common, and doctors aren’t even sure how long the virus can remain dormant in the cells.

Now, while there is no cure or treatment for HPV, most people will clear the virus up within one to two years. If your immune system is working like it should, the virus should be cleared up like all others. In that way, it’s no different from having a cold. However, some of the signs of HPV, such as genital warts, can be treated, so talk to your doctor about that. If your pap smear indicates you have HPV, you’ll need to have more frequent pap smears until the cells return to normal, due to the higher risk associated with long term HPV infection.

So there you have it, the basics of an abnormal pap smear result. It might not be as scary as you thought, but we hope that this article shows just how important it is to have regular pap smears.