• About Pap tests or Pap smears
• Who should have Pap tests or Pap smears?
• The human papillomavirus (HPV)
• The cervical cancer vaccine
• Abnormal Pap test (or Pap smear) results and treatment
• Unsatisfactory result
• Low-grade changes
• High-grade changes
• Colposcopy
• Biopsy
• Treatments for high-grade changes
• Pap tests after treatment
• Questions to ask about treatment
• Risks associated with treatment
• Cervical cancer

Abnormal Pap test (or Pap smear) results and treatment

An abnormal Pap test or Pap Smear result means that some of the cells of the cervix differ in some way from the normal cells. It very rarely means cervical cancer. The vast majority of Pap tests are normal.

If we look at the likely Pap tests results of 100 women:

• around 93 are normal
• around 2 require a repeat Pap test due to an unsatisfactory sample
• around 4 identify cell changes that require monitoring via more frequent Pap tests
• just 1 requires treatment

Of those requiring treatment, the vast majority can be treated easily and successfully.

Women who have an abnormal result often feel anxious. You can discuss these feelings with a health professional or with a nurse from Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20. The helpline is not only for people with cancer.

For more information about abnormal Pap test results, read PapScreen Victoria's booklet Pap test results: for women with an abnormal Pap test.

 

 

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