The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading sexually transmitted disease in the United States. There are over one hundred strains of HPV, but most do not cause symptoms. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts or increase your risk of getting cervical cancer. HPV 6 and 11 are most likely to cause genital warts, while HPV 16, 18, and 45 increase your cervical cancer risk. A Pap smear screens for cervical cancer. An abnormal Pap smear means there are unusual changes in your cervix. Buckhead, Vinings, Smyrna, Roswell, Alpharetta, Midtown, Sandy S Abnormal Pap smears and HPV may necessitate further detailed tests to give conclusive results that can confirm or rule out cervical cancer.
How does HPV spread?
HPV can spread through skin-to-skin contact during intercourse or oral and anal sex. The virus can also spread through genital contact without sex, but this way of transmission is rare. You can spread the HPV virus even if you are not showing symptoms.
What is an abnormal Pap smear?
A Pap smear screens for cervical cancer. The test involves your doctor taking cells from your cervix and examining them in the lab to see if there are unusual changes. A Pap smear helps doctors identify abnormal cervical cells before they become cancerous. It is known as a normal Pap smear if your doctor does not find any irregularities.
If the cells look unusual, it is called an abnormal Pap smear. An abnormal Pap smear may indicate precancerous changes in your cervix. But that does not mean you have cancer. If the lab technicians cannot determine whether the cells are normal or abnormal, your doctor may recommend you get another Pap smear test. To get further information about the abnormal cells, your doctor may order you to get additional tests.
What tests may you need after an abnormal Pap smear results?
If you have an abnormal Pap smear outcome, your doctor may recommend you get another Pap smear immediately or after a few months or a colposcopy. Another Pap smear test may be useful if the lab technicians cannot determine whether your cervical cells are normal or abnormal. Your doctor uses colposcopy to diagnose cancer or rule it out.
A colposcopy involves your doctor viewing your cervix and vagina’s lining using a colposcope. The doctor removes tissue samples from abnormal regions and sends them to the laboratory for testing. The specialist may take tissue samples from two regions; the endo and exocervix.
What happens after a colposcopy?
After colposcopy, you should avoid sexual intercourse, using tampons, vigorous exercise, and douching for about one week. Your doctor may recommend medications to ease cramping after your colposcopy. You may experience a brown discharge and some light bleeding. But contact your doctor if you experience severe cramps, heavy bleeding, or fever. Colposcopy results may take two weeks. Your doctor will discuss with you the next suitable step after the results.
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. An abnormal Pap smear indicates unusual cell changes in your cervix. Schedule an appointment at Ideal Gynecology, LLC for a Pap smear and HPV testing to detect precancerous cells for early treatment before they become cancerous.