Since the Pap smear is a test that screens for cervical cancer, if your Pap smear is normal this means that no abnormal or suspicious cells were seen on your test. The Pap smear can identify abnormal cells that are not cancerous but could lead to cancer over time if not treated. This is called dysplasia. Sometimes a Pap smear will report minor vaginal infections such as yeast or bacterial vaginosis.These infections do not cause cancer; therefore this is still a normal Pap test result.
I am under 30, why didn't my doctor do an HPV test?
Currently we are not recommending that women under 30 have a routine HPV test done with their Pap smear. This is because with a new partner there may be a new infection with HPV. To "overgeneralize", it is more likely that women in the under 30 age group are dating and will have new partners and thus new risk for HPV infection. Most of these infections are temporary and go away within a year and do not lead to any abnormalities of the cervix. We are more worried about the persistence of an infection causing changes to the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer. So a woman over 30 involved in a long-term relationship with a persistent infection is more of a concern than a woman with even several infections that come and go.
Julianne M. Dunne, MD, PC 1230 Mamaroneck Avenue Suite 100 White Plains, NY 10605 tel. (914) 948-1020 fax. (914) 948-1002 email: gyndocs1230@yahoo.com
