A Pap smear is a critical test for women’s health, helping in the early detection of cervical cancer and other conditions. Understanding the results and implications of a Pap smear, especially when they are abnormal, is essential for appropriate medical care.

If you are between 21-29 years old and have a normal Pap smear, your next screening is due in 3 years. For those 30 years or older, “co-testing” with a Pap smear and an HPV test is typically done. The HPV test specifically looks for high-risk HPV types.

Abnormal Pap smear results can have various causes. Your doctor will assess the results to determine if further testing is needed. This may include a repeat Pap smear, colposcopy (an examination of the cervix and vagina using a colposcope for magnified views), or other diagnostic procedures.

A pelvic exam is an important part of the assessment for female patients. It aids in diagnosing conditions like yeast vulvovaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, lichen sclerosus, cancers (including cervical and anal/rectal cancer), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, syphilis, herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV), among others.

Candida, also known as yeast, is a fungus occasionally identified on Pap smears, often as an incidental finding. If symptoms like itching, burning, or cheesy discharge are present, treatment for a yeast infection may be necessary.

An abnormal Pap test can be caused by infections like yeast, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas, chlamydia, or gonorrhea, resulting in inflamed cervical cells. This is often described as benign cellular or reactive changes. If necessary, treatment will be prescribed, and the Pap test should be repeated in one year.

It’s important to note that an abnormal Pap smear indicates that cells appear different, but they are not necessarily harmful. Infections, including those caused by bacteria or viruses, can lead to an abnormal Pap smear.

Even if you have had an infection with HPV types that cause RRP (Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis), you can continue to have normal Pap tests. HPV can infect cells without causing the types of precancerous changes that result in an abnormal Pap smear.

For more detailed information, you can visit these resources:

University Student Health Services Fact Sheet on Pap Smears
Abnormal Pap Smears | Baylor Medicine – Baylor College of Medicine
Pelvic Exam | Stanford Medicine 25 | Stanford Medicine
Candida – Hopkins Medicine
McKinley Health Center
Women’s Health – Augusta University
Questions and Answers about HPV and the Vaccine