PELVIC EXAMS AND PAP RESULTS
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)
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.
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!
The Results
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. Click here for more detailed information on these results.
1. SATISFACTORY/NEGATIVE:
means that based on the cells that were obtained there was no evidence of any abnormal cells found.
2. 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.
3. 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. 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
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.
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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 treatment.
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.
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.