Wellness Center of Door County

When a pelvic exam is performed there are a number
of things a clinician should evaluate:

ASSESSMENT OF:

overall health of the external genital area
overall health of the internal vagina including the "ph" or acid/base
balance of your vagina and the quality and quantity of any discharge
that may be present

TESTING FOR:

the presence of cancer or pre-cancerous cells on your cervix
the presence of any type of vaginal or cervical infection
the presence of any type of sexually transmitted infection such as
chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis ("trich")
the presence of high-risk strains of HPV (human papilloma virus)

Remember that the actual reason for doing a PAP test is to screen for cervical
cancer. Generally PAP tests can come back in 3 categories

SATISFACTORY/NEGATIVE: means that based

on the cells that were obtained there was no
evidence of any abnormal cells found.

The cervix is part of the uterus that is
visible on exam by the practitioner
and/or you if you're given the mirror.
In order to see this part of your body a
opening in the middle of the cervix, is
The cervix is part of the uterus that is
called the os and is where menstrual
bleeding leaves the uterus. This is the
time of a vaginal delivery.

UNSATISFACTORY:means that there was either too much
mucus/discharge or not enough cells that were obtained for
the sample to be rated as satisfactory.

ABNORMAL: An abnormal reading can fall into one of the
following categories:

ASCUS- means that the cells
look different than we'd expect
them to look but we don't know
if it is of any significance or
concern--so we generally will
want to recheck another PAP
test at a later date depending
upon your age.

When a PAP result is abnormal
we may request you to schedule
a colposcopy so that a closer
look with a magnifying
instrument can be used to see
your cervix much better than
with our eyes.

It is always a good idea to take
400-600mg of Ibuprofen with
some food about 30 minutes
prior to your colposcopy
appointment in the event that a
few biopsies of tissue are taken
from your cervix.

LGSIL
Low Grade Intrasquamous Epithelial Lesion
means that there are some distinct
changes that have been found in your PAP
smear. Typically these changes are
caused by the presence of the HPV
(human papilloma virus) which causes
dysplasia. Dysplasia means that
the cells may be pre-cancerous in nature.

It is very important to follow-up on your provider's recommendation for
repeat PAP testing. Don't allow fear to be a barrier!
Your cervix requires close monitoring so any further changes
can be detected and treated early!

HSIL
High Grade Intrasquamous
Epithelial Lesion means that there
are cervical changes that are of
concern and require close
monitoring, follow-up with or
without treatement.

Cells may appear abnormal for many
reasons, including if you:

* Have a sexually transmitted infection
* Have a yeast infection
* Have precancerous cells or suspicious
growths on your cervix

Cervical cancer can be treated as long as it is
caught early and therapies done to control or
eliminate the cancerous cells. This can include
freezing and/or removal of areas of tissue. The
goal is to prevent the loss of a woman's uterus and
protect her ability to reproduce & successfully
carry a pregnancy.

Pelvic Exams & PAP
Results