Your past Pap test results and personal health history will help your health care professional determine what type of follow up is appropriate.
In some cases, a Pap test may report that abnormal cells are present in a sample when, in fact, the cells in question are normal. This type of abnormal report is known as a false positive.
When a Pap test fails to detect an existing abnormality, the result is called a "false negative." Even under the best of conditions, there is always a small, but irreducible, false negative rate. Several factors may contribute to a false negative Pap test:
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When irregular cells are located high in the cervical canal they are difficult to access under normal Pap test procedures.
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Menstrual blood and inflammatory cells can mask abnormal cells; these cells would not be visible to the cytotechnologist.
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An inadequate sample — not enough cells were collected during the Pap test.
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Human error, in which the person reviewing the slide misinterpreted abnormal cells as normal.
Screening Guidelines for Cervical Cancer from American Cancer Society
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Screening should begin about three years after a woman begins having intercourse, but no later than age 21.
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Women should have a regular Pap test every year or a liquid-based Pap test every two or three years. At or after age 30, women who have had three normal test results in a row may be screened every two to three years. A health care professional may suggest more frequent testing if you have certain risk factors such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or a weakened immune system.
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The combination of HPV testing with a Pap test should be considered as an alternative for routine screening in women 30 and older.
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Women age 65 to 70 and older who have had three or more normal Pap test results and no abnormal results in the last 10 years may stop screening.
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Screening after a total hysterectomy (with removal of the cervix) is not necessary unless the surgery was performed as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer, or there was a prior history of abnormal Pap smears. Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix should continue cervical cancer screening at least until age 65-70.
Last medical review: 6/06
Last date updated: 1/07
Copyright 2007 National Women's Health Resource Center Inc. (NWHRC)
