What can cause an abnormal Pap smears besides HPV?

Can you get an abnormal Pap without having HPV?

Cause. Most abnormal Pap tests are caused by HPV infections. Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells.

Can you have abnormal cells without HPV?

Other things can cause cells to look abnormal, including irritation, some infections (such as a yeast infection), growths (such as polyps in the uterus), and changes in hormones that occur during pregnancy or menopause. Although these things may make cervical cells look abnormal, they are not related to cancer.

Can an abnormal Pap be nothing?

Most women will have at least one abnormal Pap smear result in their lifetime, with an overall average of 5% of all Pap tests coming back as “abnormal.” In most cases, the abnormal result is nothing to worry about, but it's important to follow up to make sure.

Can a yeast infection cause an abnormal Pap smear?

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) , yeast infections can lead to an abnormal Pap smear finding called atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US). ASC-US is the most common abnormal Pap smear result.

What causes a pap smear to be abnormal?

What is the most common reason for an abnormal Pap smear?

In most cases, an abnormal Pap test is a result of: A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. A sexually transmitted infection (STI or STD), such as herpes or trichomoniasis. A bacterial or yeast infection.

What are the five categories of Pap smear abnormalities?

Should I be scared of an abnormal Pap?

There's no need to panic

When you hear that your Pap smear results were abnormal, you might feel some anxiety. Although worry is a common and normal reaction, it's important to know that your test results merely showed that you have an infection or unusual cells known as dysplasia. None of this means you have cancer.

How concerning is an abnormal Pap smear?

Having an abnormal Pap smear does not mean you have cancer or even precancerous cells of the cervix. Most abnormal Pap smear results will not progress to cancer, and abnormal cells can usually be treated when identified early, to prevent cervical cancer.

What happens if you keep having abnormal Pap smears?

If they appear to be abnormal, your doctor will order more tests, including a colposcopy, to find out for sure if it's cancer. Squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma cells. This means the cells on your cervix are so abnormal, your doctor is almost certain it's cancer.

Can abnormal cells be caused by something other than HPV?

Other things can cause cells to look abnormal, including irritation, some infections (such as a yeast infection), growths (such as polyps in the uterus), and changes in hormones that occur during pregnancy or menopause. Although these things may make cervical cells look abnormal, they are not related to cancer.

How common is an abnormal Pap?

About 5% of all Pap tests will be abnormal, meaning that the sample contains atypical cervical cells. However, the majority of these cells are not cancerous or even precancerous. An abnormal Pap test result does not mean cancer, but it does require follow-up to rule out the possibility of cancer.

Can BV cause positive HPV test?

Because women with BV possess a Lactobacillus-poor flora, their changes in the vaginal ecosystem may provide biological plausibility for an increased risk or reactivation of HPV infection.

Can cysts cause abnormal Pap smears?

There are actually lots of reasons your Pap smear may come back “abnormal.” You may have an infection or inflammation, growth or cysts, changes in your hormones (usually due to pregnancy or menopause), problems with your immune system related to diabetes, HIV, or autoimmune diseases.

What test is done after abnormal Pap smear?

What Happens After an Abnormal Pap Test? If your Pap test results are abnormal, your doctor may recommend a colposcopy. If you're told that you need a colposcopy, don't panic, says Coleman.

Can BV cause abnormal Pap?

What Causes An Abnormal Pap test? The presence of an infection such as yeast, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas, chlamydia or gonorrhea may cause cervical cells to appear inflamed, resulting in the finding described as benign cellular or reactive changes.

Do you need a biopsy for abnormal Pap smear?

An abnormal Pap test or HPV test result may mean more testing is needed to see if a cancer or a pre-cancer is present. The tests that are used include colposcopy (with biopsy), endocervical scraping and cone biopsies.

Should I be worried if I need a colposcopy?

Try not to worry

If you're referred for a colposcopy after an abnormal cervical screening test, you shouldn't assume you have cervical cancer. Less than 1 in 1,000 women referred for a colposcopy are found to have cervical cancer that requires immediate treatment.

What is a high risk Pap smear?

High Grade Abnormal Pap Test Results

High grade cervical cells identified by Pap test results can indicate the presence of precancerous cervical dysplasia—which can be caused by strains of HPV that are associated with a high risk of developing cancer—or, sometimes, cervical cancer itself.

Can inflammation cause abnormal Pap smear?

An abnormal Pap smear can be caused by cancerous cells. It can also be caused by other cervical and vaginal abnormalities, including dysplasia (precancerous cells) and inflammation.

What can cause a false positive for HPV?

Pap Results Are Often Inaccurate

Sometimes these false positive Paps can be explained by a recent vaginal infection, or trauma to the cervix due to douching, tampons, or intercourse; sometimes the false positives just represent an inherent limitation of the test.

Can you test positive for HPV and not have it?

HPV spreads through sexual contact and is very common in young people — frequently, the test results will be positive. However, HPV infections often clear on their own within a year or two. Cervical changes that lead to cancer usually take several years — often 10 years or more — to develop.

How common are false positives for HPV?

It's up to 30 percent of people [who] are falsely positive." These false positive cases can lead to unnecessary, higher risk follow-up procedures, like biopsies. "That's a lot of women that are unnecessarily worried.

What should you avoid after a Pap smear?

Avoid sex and don't use a tampon in the two to three days following a Pap smear if you're experiencing bleeding. The additional pressure may cause bleeding to start again or become heavier.

Are all abnormal cells precancerous?

Not necessarily. Despite what's implied by the prefix, not all precancerous cells progress into cancer. Precancerous cells are abnormal cells that could undergo changes and turn into cancer cells as time goes by. In fact, most precancerous cells do not morph into invasive cancer cells.