The annual Pap Test is a typical routine exam that women follow every year. Most of the time, it’s no big deal – you go in, have the test, and everything is fine. But what happens when the test from your physician at Woodlands OBGYN Associates comes back abnormal?
Most doctors agree that an abnormal result is nothing to worry about initially. In fact, abnormal smears are quite rare, when compared to the number of tests that come back as normal. Yet, because it is natural to worry, here’s what you can do if this were to happen.
First of all – breathe. As mentioned, an abnormal pap result is not a cause for alarm at the outset. There could be a myriad of reasons why you have an abnormal result. Recent sexual intercourse is one reason. Semen, lubricants, and douches can all cause temporary changes on your cervix, thus complicating your results a bit.
If you have an abnormal test result, your doctor will do the test again to determine if your results are the same. In many cases, the second test comes back normal, and no further tests are needed.
If by chance it does come back abnormal again, there is still no cause for panic. An abnormal test does not necessarily mean anything is seriously wrong with you. As a precaution, your doctor will likely order further tests to determine if there are cellular changes on your cervix.
At this point, you still have no need to worry, as even these tests are often not definitive. Changes to the cervix can happen so slowly, that they are often caught well before they do any real damage or cause serious health problems.
If your doctor detects anything suspicions, he or she will discuss all of the available treatment options that you may need. Treating abnormal pap smears have become very easy to handle and extremely efficient, so the chances of getting it cleared up are very high. Early detection is the key to treatment success, so continue to get your annual exams and stay healthy!
