Is having an abnormal Pap test serious?
Hearing that you have an abnormal Pap test may make you worry that you might have cervical cancer. The good news is that you probably do not. Cervical cancer is a relatively rare condition. Most abnormal Pap results are not cancer. It may be comforting to know that abnormal Pap test results are not uncommon. About 1 in every 20 Pap test results are considered abnormal. What is abnormal about my Pap test cells? There are many reasons why a Pap test may be interpreted as abnormal, most of which are not serious. Some of the most common causes of abnormal Pap smears are described below. Atypical (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS)). Atypical means that abnormalities were found in your cells. Pathologists are uncertain what these cells actually represent. So a woman with these results needs to have follow-up. Your clinician will determine which type of follow-up is best for you. Some women need a repea
