1Life Healthcare : Abnormal Pap? Stress Less With This Simple Guide

Updated January 20, 2021.

You completed your cervical cancer screening, great! But now you have been told that the results are abnormal which can be disconcerting and confusing, but it doesn't have to be cause for alarm. The vast majority of cervical cancer abnormalities are either self-correcting or are detected so early that they can be treated easily, long before the most serious problems develop. After all, that's why we do the test.

First, let's look at what testing may be included in a cervical cancer screening:

Cytology: This looks at the cells of the cervix for any abnormalities.

HPV testing: This tests for the presence of human papillomavirus, some strains of which can cause cervical cancer. It is worth noting that usually HPV screening is not included until you are at least 30 years old. For more information on HPV you can also check out our blog all about HPV.

Now, let's take a closer look at the various types of cervical cancer screening abnormalities and what sort of follow-up tests and treatments are recommended.