Should I worry about abnormal Pap test results?

Q. My Pap test results came back as abnormal. Does this mean I have cervical cancer, or is there another possible explanation?

A. The explicit purpose of a Pap test is to screen for cervical cancer and precancerous conditions. Cervical cancer is diagnosed in about 13,800 American women each year. But there are definitely other possible reasons that cells collected from your cervix may appear irregular.

While nearly 4% of all Pap tests are flagged as abnormal, most of those findings don't indicate cancer. Indeed, most are benign and may result from a cervical or vaginal infection. Frequently, Pap tests show changes related to the presence of human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause genital warts and precancerous changes that need further testing. While HPV is a virus, it is not a typical infection. Most women are exposed to it at some point during their lifetime and become carriers of the virus after they are exposed. HPV does not often cause symptoms, and it can come and go — so just because your Pap shows you carry the virus today does not mean the test will still show the virus a year or two later.

Typically, your gynecologist will follow up on an abnormal Pap test by performing a brief procedure called a colposcopy. She'll look at the cervix, vagina, and vulva in more detail using an instrument called a colposcope, which can magnify areas that appear abnormal, and may take a biopsy. Depending on what she learns, you may need additional follow-up testing or treatment.

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