Irregular Pap Smear

An irregular Pap smear is suggestive of the presence of unusual changes in the cells collected from the cervical epithelium. It is possible that such a result indicates an infectious disease, premalignant or malignant lesions. Actually, Pap smear is a screening tool which is able to detect abnormalities, but not to provide a precise diagnosis. It may be necessary to realize some supplementary diagnostic tests in order to make a definitive diagnosis. In some cases the result of Pap smear may be erroneous as some abnormal changes may be missed.

In case an irregular Pap smear suggests the presence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the doctors frequently refer the patients for colposcopic examination and biopsy. Some women undergo curettage of the endocervical canal and HPV DNA tests which help to define the necessity and strategies of management. Only a specialist is able to determine whether these tests are necessary.

HPV or other genital infections are the most frequent cause of an irregular Pap smear result. It means that one of the sex partners of the woman with such diagnosis had the infection and transmitted it to her. If the tests show the presence of HPV there is no way to find out when or from whom the virus was transmitted since HPV is able to reside inside the cells for a long period of time without manifesting itself. For this reasons, HPV-infected woman should contact her sex partners and inform them that they are probably also infected.

It is important for women having an irregular Pap smear to respect all medical prescriptions. In the majority of cases Pap smear results return to normal without treatment, but in some cases unusual changes progress and lead to premalignant lesions of the cervix, condition called cervical dysplasia. Due to this fact, women with detected cervical abnormalities should undergo regular pelvic exams accompanied by Pap smears until the abnormalities disappear.

Since Pap smear provides the information about the status of cervical and vaginal epithelium, it should be realized during each gynecological exam. Every woman should undergo this test after she becomes sexually active or from the age of 18. Health care providers recommend to have this test annually and if woman receives an irregular Pap smear result it is recommended to have the test more often.