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Pap smear and treatment

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The Pap smear Pap smears and cervical cancer

Overview

Pap smear and treatment

Alternative Names:

Treatment - abnormal Pap smear

Information:

An abnormal pap smear does not always require special treatment, but it does require follow up. There are three broad categories of abnormal pap smear results:

• Precancerous -- usually reported as "atypical cells" or "Cervical dysplasia"
• Cancerous

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If you receive a result stating that you have atypical cells in your cervix, your doctor is likely to treat you for an infection and have you follow up in 4 to 6 months for a repeat pap smear; or he may simply have you follow up in 4 to 6 months for the repeat pap smear.

If you receive a precancerous report, you will likely have a colposcopy and possibly a biopsy. Further treatment will be determined by your physician based on the results of these tests.

The goal for a pap smear is to find a change or abnormality in the cervix before it becomes cancerous.

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