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Understanding Cervical Changes: A Health Guide for Women

  • Posted: 01/21/2010

Finding Abnormal Cells

The Pap Test
The HPV Test
How Is the HPV Test Done?
When Is an HPV Test Useful?

The Pap Test

The Pap test can find many kinds of cell changes, but the main purpose is to detect cancer or abnormal cells that may lead to cancer.

These cell changes can almost always be treated so you don't get cervical cancer. Most changes in the cervix happen very slowly.

If the lab finds cell abnormalities, the Pap test result is called a positive test result or abnormal. If the cervical cells look healthy, the result is called a negative test result or normal.

The Pap test is not always 100 percent accurate. If one Pap test misses cell changes, they can often be found on your next test. This is why it is very important that you have regular Pap tests. You should also go back to your health care provider for care if you get an abnormal result.

The Pap Test and DES
If you were born between 1940 and 1971 and your mother was given a synthetic form of the hormone estrogen called diethylstilbestrol (DES) when she was pregnant with you, be sure to tell your doctor. Your doctor may want to take additional cells to check for a rare type of cancer.

The HPV Test

Almost all cervical cancer begins as an infection with HPV. An HPV test can detect the virus in cervical cells.

How Is the HPV Test Done?

In an HPV test a small number of cells is collected from the cervix, much as they are collected for a Pap test. Sometimes, the same cell sample that was taken for the Pap test can be used to check for HPV. A lab then looks for the presence of DNA from high-risk HPV types.

When Is an HPV Test Useful?

An HPV test can be useful in screening for cervical cancer in two ways:

  • For women of all ages, an HPV test can be useful as a follow-up to a Pap test with a result of ASC-US (see Table 1 1).
  • For women age 30 or older, an HPV test can be useful if it is done together with a Pap test as routine screening for cancer once every 3 years.

But if you are under age 30, getting an HPV test and a Pap test together on a regular basis is not recommended. In fact, routine HPV tests would lead to unnecessary treatment, because HPV infections are very common in women under 30 and usually go away on their own.



Glossary Terms

DES
A synthetic form of the hormone estrogen that was prescribed to pregnant women between about 1940 and 1971 because it was thought to prevent miscarriages. DES may increase the risk of uterine, ovarian, or breast cancer in women who took it. It also has been linked to an increased risk of clear cell carcinoma of the vagina or cervix in daughters exposed to DES before birth. Also called diethylstilbestrol.
diethylstilbestrol (dy-EH-thul-stil-BES-trol)
A synthetic form of the hormone estrogen that was prescribed to pregnant women between about 1940 and 1971 because it was thought to prevent miscarriages. Diethylstilbestrol may increase the risk of uterine, ovarian, or breast cancer in women who took it. It also has been linked to an increased risk of clear cell carcinoma of the vagina or cervix in daughters exposed to diethylstilbestrol before birth. Also called DES.
DNA
The molecules inside cells that carry genetic information and pass it from one generation to the next. Also called deoxyribonucleic acid.
estrogen (ES-truh-jin)
A type of hormone made by the body that helps develop and maintain female sex characteristics and the growth of long bones. Estrogens can also be made in the laboratory. They may be used as a type of birth control and to treat symptoms of menopause, menstrual disorders, osteoporosis, and other conditions.
negative test result (NEH-guh-tiv ... reh-ZULT)
A test result that does not show the specific disease, condition, or biomarker for which the test is being done.
positive test result (PAH-zih-tiv ... reh-ZULT)
A test result that reveals the presence of a specific disease or condition for which the test is being done.
screening (SKREE-ning)
Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Since screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease. Examples of cancer screening tests are the mammogram (breast), colonoscopy (colon), and the Pap test and HPV test (cervix). Screening can also include checking for a person’s risk of developing an inherited disease by doing a genetic test.
synthetic (sin-THEH-tik)
Having to do with substances that are man-made instead of taken from nature.

Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcervicalchanges/page9