What does HPV positive and abnormal cells mean?
Results from your HPV test will come back as either positive or negative. Positive HPV test. A positive test result means that you have a type of high-risk HPV that’s linked to cervical cancer. It doesn’t mean that you have cervical cancer now, but it’s a warning sign that cervical cancer could develop in the future.
What happens if HPV causes abnormal cells?
They are fought off by the body’s immune system. However, sometimes infections with high-risk HPV types do not go away. When a high-risk HPV infection of cervical cells lasts many years, the cells can become abnormal. These changes can get worse over time and may become cervical cancer.
Does positive HPV mean abnormal pap?
WHAT CAUSES AN ABNORMAL PAP SMEAR RESULT? HPV, Human Papiloma Virus, causes abnormal Pap smear results because HPV is a virus which infects skin cells. When subclinical HPV infects the skin cells in the cervix (skin cells on the cervix are called squamous cells), it causes the cells to change and become abnormal.
What does abnormal cells in a Pap smear mean?
What Does It Mean if a Pap Smear Is Abnormal? Healthy cervical cells are thin and flat. If your Pap test is abnormal, this means that your sample contained abnormally shaped cervical cells. Most of the abnormal cells found during a Pap test are the result of a cervical or vaginal infection and are not cancerous.
Can abnormal cells from HPV go away?
They usually go away on their own and do not require treatment. CIN 2 changes are moderate and are typically treated by removing the abnormal cells. However, CIN 2 can sometimes go away on its own. Some women, after consulting with their health care provider, may decide to have a colposcopy with biopsy every 6 months.
What happens after a positive HPV test?
If you got a positive HPV test and your Pap test was abnormal, your doctor will probably follow up with a colposcopy. Try to see a physician who specializes in this procedure. During a colposcopy, your doctor will look more closely at the cervix, vagina or vulva with a special microscope called a colposcope.
How do you treat HPV positive?
Treatment
- Salicylic acid. Over-the-counter treatments that contain salicylic acid work by removing layers of a wart a little at a time.
- Imiquimod. This prescription cream might enhance your immune system’s ability to fight HPV .
- Podofilox.
- Trichloroacetic acid.
How do you treat abnormal cells in HPV?
Treatment for high-grade cervical cell changes
- Cryotherapy: A special cold probe is used to destroy abnormal tissue by freezing it. This procedure is done in your health care provider’s office.
- Laser therapy: A laser (narrow beam of intense light) is used to destroy abnormal tissue.
What should I do if I test positive for HPV?
What does it mean when you test positive for HPV?
– If you’re 26 or younger, get the HPV vaccine if you haven’t already. – Practice safe sex. Using condoms can prevent HPV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). – Limit sexual partners. The more sexual partners you have, the more likely you are to be exposed to HPV. – Stop smoking or don’t start.
What do ascus and negative HPV mean on Pap results?
On a Pap smear, ASCUS stands for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The term indicates an inconclusive, or unclear, Pap test result. A negative HPV means the patient tested negative for the human papillomavirus.
What does a positive HPV Pap smear mean?
ASCUS (Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance). This means your Pap smear results are borderline,between normal and abnormal.
What if my Pap test results are abnormal?
You may need to come back sooner if you had abnormal results in the past. Abnormal Pap test results: An abnormal test result may also be called a positive test result. An abnormal test result does not mean you have cervical cancer. Possible abnormal findings on a Pap test include ASC-US, AGC, LSIL, ASC-H, HSIL, AIS, or cervical cancer. Your health care provider will recommend follow-up steps you need to take based on your specific test result and your past test results.