What can cause an abnormal Pap smears besides HPV?

Can you get an abnormal Pap without having HPV?

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 an abnormal pap be nothing?

Most abnormal Pap smear results are nothing to worry about

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 abnormal cells from Pap smear be from an STD?

A Pap smear can detect many abnormalities, including local inflammation and a few sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and HPV). However, even if your Pap smear did detect cells that resemble precancerous or cancerous cells, only a biopsy can determine if something serious is going on.

Do abnormal cells always mean HPV?

Abnormal. An abnormal result means that cell changes were found on your cervix. This usually does not mean that you have cervical cancer. Abnormal changes on your cervix are likely caused by HPV.

What causes a pap smear to be abnormal?

What can make a Pap smear abnormal?

Are abnormal Pap smears common?

Most of the abnormal cells found during a Pap test are the result of a cervical or vaginal infection and are not cancerous. Abnormal Pap tests are very common. In fact, of the 3 million women with abnormal Pap tests each year, less than 1% (13,240 cases) will be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

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.

Can chlamydia cause abnormal Pap smear?

Other causes can explain why you have had an abnormal pap smear. There are other sexually transmitted infections (STI) that can be blamed, as well as gonorrhea and chlamydia. Yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis will also cause changes in your cervical cells. All of these conditions are treatable.

Can UTI cause abnormal Pap smear?

Possible reasons for abnormal Pap test results besides cancer include: Vaginal infection. Recent sexual activity. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Should I be worried about abnormal smear test?

Abnormal Smears. Smear tests identify changes in cervical cells and help identify abnormal cells which can help prevent cervical cancer. It is quite normal for women to experience this at some stage in their life and it does not typically elude to anything serious.

What happens after a second abnormal Pap smear?

Your next step is usually a minor procedure called a colposcopy. This procedure is a visual examination of the cervix using a low-powered microscope used to find and then biopsy abnormal areas in your cervix that may lead to cervical cancer.

Should I be worried if I need a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is a safe and quick procedure. However, some women find it uncomfortable and a few experience pain. Tell the doctor or nurse (colposcopist) if you find the procedure painful, as they will try to make you more comfortable. A colposcopy is a safe procedure to have during pregnancy.

Can you have CIN 3 without HPV?

Nearly all CIN3 lesions are associated with hrHPV types, with a very small proportion associated only with low risk HPV types [24].

Can BV cause positive HPV test?

Bacterial vaginosis - cervical human papillomavirus association. Analysis of the association between BV and cervical HPV infection shows that HPV prevalence is significantly higher in BV positive women in only three out of twelve studies compared to women without BV [14,17,23].

Why do I need a colposcopy if my Pap is normal?

If your pap test showed some abnormal cells and you tested positive for HPV, a colposcopy can help confirm and diagnose potential problems. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a virus that may raise your risk for certain types of cancer, including cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.

Can low estrogen cause abnormal Pap smear?

After menopause a woman's estrogen levels decrease to very low levels. The vaginal tissues are affected by estrogen. Thinning of the tissues can make the cells appear abnormal on a Pap.

Does BV show up on Pap smear?

The positive predictive value of Pap smear to diagnose BV was 56.5% (CI – 47.8%–64.9%), and the negative predictive value was 71.2% (CI – 61.8%–79.4%).

What kind of infections can a Pap smear detect?

The STIs that can be diagnosed by Pap smear are trichomoniasis, HPV infection, herpes genitalis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.

Can cervical polyps cause abnormal Pap smear?

Pap smear, a regular and routine test, may reveal abnormal cells if you have polyps.

Can endometriosis cause abnormal Pap?

Cervical endometriosis is rare. In a 2011 study that included more than 13,500 women with endometriosis, only 33 had growths on their cervixes. Because there are often no symptoms, a person may be unaware that they have this condition until they receive a regular pelvic exam or an unusual Pap smear result.

Can PCOS cause abnormal Pap smears?

Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are not at an increased risk for having abnormal Pap smears or cervical cancer and do not need to have the test performed more frequently. That does not mean that you can skip your yearly exam and regular Pap smear, however.

What happens if you have abnormal cells after a smear?

If your cervical smear test shows abnormal cells, you may have a different test to look closely at your cervix. This is called a colposcopy. Sometimes the doctor or nurse doing the test can see that the cells are abnormal. They may offer you treatment to remove these cells during the colposcopy.

What causes abnormal cells on cervix?

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.

What causes precancerous cells in cervix?

Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main risk factor for precancerous changes in the cervix. Smoking and having a weakened immune system increase the chance that an HPV infection will not go away on its own and will develop into a precancerous condition of the cervix.