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Re: Abnormal Pap smear - ASCUS - QuestionFrom: Hannah (anonymous@obgyn.net)Wed, 30 Apr 2003 21:35:47 -0500 (CDT)
Lisa: First things first: deep breath and try to relax. I recognize the "stomach in knots" feeling from my own ASCUS pap smear, but it's not worth stressing about. Here's the deal: ASCUS means Atypical Squamous Cells of Uncertain Significance. The cervical cells on your recent Pap smear looked a little weird, but not weird enough to label as either low- or high- grade dysplasia (which are the true "pre-cancerous" changes). Many things can cause this, from a yeast infection to HPV (the virus that causes dysplasia and cervical cancer). More than two thirds of the time, the cause is never found and subsequent Pap smears come back normal. You may never discover why your Pap smear came back ASCUS. Presumably it wasn't the result of an infection, since you've been tested. Could it be because your cervix was recently man-handled? Possibly. More than likely your next Pap smear will be normal. If it isn't (if it comes back as ASCUS again or as dysplasia), you'll have colposcopy (cervix viewed through magnifying lenses) and possibly a biopsy (not pleasant, but over in 30 seconds or less) and take it from there. Don't be scared of cervical cancer at this point. The progression from dysplasia (which you probably don't even have) to invasive cancer takes an average of seven years. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to get regular Pap smears, which you're already doing. You'll be fine.
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