Abnormal Pap Smear: What it means and next medical steps
Learn what an abnormal Pap Smear means and why a colposcopy and early detection protect your life.
Receiving an abnormal Pap smear result can cause anxiety, but in the vast majority of cases, it does not mean cancer, but rather the presence of mild, treatable cell changes.
The Pap smear is a screening that detects early changes (dysplasias) in the cells of the cervix caused by HPV. If your result shows abnormalities such as atypical squamous cells (ASC-US) or intraepithelial lesions (SIL), the next step is to perform a more detailed evaluation to provide the correct care.
Medical Protocol for an Abnormal Pap Smear
- 01.
Mandatory Colposcopy: A magnified visual examination of the cervix with HD video to identify the exact origin of abnormal cells.
- 02.
Directed biopsy: If a suspicious area is observed under the colposcope, a painless, millimeter-sized sample is taken for histological confirmation.
- 03.
Active follow-up or treatment: Depending on the grade (low or high), it is defined whether to monitor closely (surveillance) or eradicate using cauterization or LEEP conization.
Acting on time is successful prevention
Precursor lesions take 5 to 10 years to evolve into serious conditions. An abnormal Pap smear on time is the greatest medical opportunity to protect your cervical health.
If you have an abnormal result and seek a clear explanation and a high-definition colposcopic evaluation in Reynosa, book your consultation with us.
Received an abnormal result and seeking a colposcopy?
Schedule a colposcopy with high-definition video and get expert guidance from Dr. Pamela Ventura.