Abnormal Pap Smear Results

A pap smear (or pap test) is a test that checks for changes in your cervical cells. It is performed by a provider inserting a speculum into your vagina so that the provider can view the cervix. The provider will then swab a collection of cells off of the cervix and send it to a lab for analysis. A pap smear can detect infection, abnormal/unhealthy cervical cells, and cervical cancer. It is important for a woman to have a pap smear, pelvic exam, and breast exam as part of her routine health care. If a patient has a series of abnormal pap smears, her provider may suggest human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in order to determine if that is the cause of the patient’s repeat abnormal pap smears. Some types of HPV are strongly linked to the development of cervical cancer.

You should get a pap smear if:

• You are 21 years old or older; or
• You are under 21 and are sexually active.

There is no age limit for having a pap smear, even women who have gone through menopause still need to have a pap smear.


The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the following pap smear guidelines: 

• If you are younger than 30, you should have a pap smear every year.
• If you are age 30 or older and have had three normal pap smears in a row, talk with your provider about spacing out your pap smears to every two to three years (unless, of course, one of these subsequent pap smears comes back as abnormal).
• If you are 65 to 70 years old and have had at least three normal pap smears and no abnormal pap smears for 10 years, ask your provider if you may stop having pap smears.

You should have a pap smear annually no matter what your age if:

• You have a weakened immune system because of organ transplant, chemotherapy, steroid use, or chronic disease.
• Your mother was exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) during her pregnancy.
• You are HIV-positive or have AIDS. HIV-positive women and women with AIDS are at a higher risk of cervical cancer and other cervical diseases. The U.S. Centers for Disease control suggest that HIV-positive women get an initial pap smear and get re-tested six months later. If both of these tests are normal then the patient may get pap smears annually after that.

The only women who do not need regular pap smears are:

• A woman over age 65 who has had a number of normal pap smears and has been told by her provider that she doesn’t need anymore pap smears.
• A woman who does not have a cervix and has a low risk of cervical cancer. You should still speak with your provider in order to determine if stopping pap smears is a good idea.

A woman can increase her risk of getting cervical cancer by:

• Having sex prior to age 18;
• Having many sex partners;
• Having sex partners who have other sex partners; and/or
• Has or has had a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Treatments and further testing after an abnormal pap smear can include:

• Repeat pap smear
• Colposcopy
• LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
• Cryotherapy
• Cone biopsy
• Cervical disorders