General Information

Pap smears screen for abnormal cells on the cervix.  This screening can help prevent cervical cancer by detecting the early cell changes associated with the disease, allowing for appropriate treatment and prevention.

Scheduling your Pap Smear

Sexually active women should receive Pap smears annually.  Some women may need to have Pap smears done more frequently and women who have never been sexually active should have them at intervals determined by their clinician.  Treat all infections before receiving your annual Pap smear and try not to schedule your Pap smear during your period week.  No vaginal medications and no douching for 48 hours prior to your appointment.

Receiving your Pap Smear

When collecting a Pap smear, the clinician takes a sample of cells from the cervix using a special brush or swab – this process can cause brief cramping but most often it causes no discomfort. The specimen is then sent to a laboratory for examination and interpretation. 

Results

Pap smear results are categorized according to the appearance of the cells and their pattern of growth.  Changes in cervical cells tend to occur gradually and in progression from normal to mildly abnormal, and finally, to severely abnormal:

• Normal Pap smears: All the cells in the sample look normal and no follow-up is needed. 
• Reactive: Cervical cells show evidence of tissue repair associated with infection or trauma to the cervix. See your clinician for evaluation and treatment
• Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS): The changes seen within the cells cannot be attributed to a specific cause and it is uncertain how significant those changes may or may not be.  Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing will be ordered: if it’s negative a repeat pap will be done in 4 months, if it’s positive, a Colposcopy will be scheduled to further evaluate cervical changes.  Schedule an appointment with your clinician to discuss this further.
•  Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LGSIL): Changes in cervical cells most often resulting from exposure to HPV.  This category also includes changes of mild dysplasia.  Dysplastic changes have traditionally been graded as mild, moderate, or severe.  It is not a term indicating cancer.  Mild dysplasia is not likely to progress to higher grades of dysplasia. A minor procedure is done to evaluate the cervix (Colposcopy). Schedule an appointment with your clinician to discuss this further. 
• High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion or HGSIL: Cervical cells indicate moderate to severe dysplasia.  A minor procedure is done to evaluate the cervix (Colposcopy). Schedule an appointment with your clinician to discuss this further. 
• CA-in-Situ: Cervical cells indicate a pre-malignant process capable of progressing to invasive cancer.  A minor procedure is done to evaluate the cervix (Colposcopy). Schedule an appointment with your clinician to discuss this further. 

Remember, Pap smears are screening tests that indicate when further evaluation is needed.  If your results indicate that you require further attention, we will get in touch with you within a couple weeks of your exam.   There is a 15% false-negative rate, meaning that 15 out of every 100 Pap smears may have missed some type of abnormality. 

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