Are you concerned that you have not been as proactive regarding your female health as possible? Have you recently had your Well Woman Exam, but are concerned about the results of the pap smear test? Pap smears are an important test for women to undergo to check for cervical cancer or the risk of cancer based on precancerous cells. Results may indicate a clean bill of health, or they may be unclear, resulting in an abnormal pap smear. Learn more about what this means for you and your health during a consultation with our team at Aurora Aesthetics and Wellness in San Antonio, TX!
What Is an Abnormal Pap Smear?
An abnormal pap smear refers to results from a pap smear test that are unclear or abnormal. While this may be unsettling to hear back as your results from our team, it is actually fairly common for tests to come back as abnormal.
Although pap smear tests are performed to test for cervical cancer or cervical abnormalities, abnormal results do not necessarily mean you have cancer. These abnormal results may, however, indicate human papilloma virus, or HPV, which is considered to be one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What Should I Do Next?
If you receive notice of an abnormal pap smear, it is important to pursue additional medical care. While having another pap smear test may be recommended, there are other diagnostic tools available. An HPV test may be performed, or a colposcopy may be recommended. Also, if you receive notice of an abnormal pap smear, it may be recommended that you receive more frequent pap smears in the future to continually monitor your health.
What Is a Colposcopy?
A colposcopy is a diagnostic test performed to better understand and diagnose cervical concerns. It is an important tool for locating and identifying cancerous or precancerous cells on the cervix. During the process, a speculum is inserted into the vagina in a process similar to a pap smear. However, this speculum is slightly different and allows a member of our team to have a better look at the cervix.
A special solution is applied to the cervix. This solution highlights or indicates areas that may be of potential concern or risk. If there is cause for concern, a biopsy may be performed to collect a sample. Based on the results of the colposcopy, additional treatment recommendations may be made.
Schedule Your Consultation!
If you are concerned about the results of an abnormal pap smear, it is imperative to seek continued medical care. Contact us today at Aurora Aesthetics and Wellness and schedule your consultation to learn more about your diagnostic and treatment options. Our team proudly serves you from San Antonio, Texas, and we are committed to helping ensure your overall health.