What are the main causes of ascus?
What are the main causes of ASCUS? ASCUS may be caused by a vaginal infection or an infection with a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus, or wart virus). Your doctor will talk with you about the options of looking at your cervix with a microscope (colposcopy) or repeating your Pap smear every six months for two years.
What do ascus and negative HPV mean on Pap results?
On a Pap smear, ASCUS stands for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The term indicates an inconclusive, or unclear, Pap test result. A negative HPV means the patient tested negative for the human papillomavirus.
When to start Pap smear?
- Have a Pap test and an HPV test (co-testing) every 5 years
- Have a Pap test alone every 3 years
- Have an HPV test alone every 5 years
What can cause abnormal Pap?
Common Causes for an Abnormal Pap Smear
- Sexually Transmitted Infections. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, affecting about 75% of sexually active people.
- Other Infections. Vaginitis can cause an abnormal pap smear. ...
- Smoking. Women who smoke cigarettes have an increased chance of having an abnormal pap smear. ...
- Birth Control Pills. ...
What causes ASCUS Pap besides HPV?
In most cases, an abnormal Pap test is a result of:A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.A sexually transmitted infection (STI or STD), such as herpes or trichomoniasis.A bacterial or yeast infection.Inflammation in the pelvic area.Normal cellular changes that occur with age.More items...
Can you have ASCUS without HPV?
ASCUS may also appear in women with low hormone levels and those with benign growths, such as cysts or polyps. The presence of HPV is linked to cervical cancer. If no HPV cells are found, additional testing should be done every three years, according to CDC guidelines.
Is ASCUS something to worry about?
If abnormal cells persist or the condition worsens, referral to specialist clinic for colposcopy will be required. Since the progression from severe deterioration of cervical cells to cancer generally takes about 5 to 10 years, the condition does not pose any immediate threat, please do not worry excessively.
What does it mean when your Pap smear comes back ASCUS?
ASCUS ~ Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance This diagnosis means that some of the cells on your Pap smear did not look entirely normal but did not meet diagnostic criteria for a lesion. Your doctor may either repeat your Pap smear, or perform a colposcopy.
How do you get ASCUS?
ASCUS may be caused by a vaginal infection or an infection with a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus, or wart virus). Your doctor will talk with you about the options of looking at your cervix with a microscope (colposcopy) or repeating your Pap smear every six months for two years.
Will ASCUS go away?
CONCLUSION: How to treat an ASCUS (Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance) Pap test has been a major source of anxiety for patients and physicians. Most mild cervical abnormalities go away without treatment.
How is ASCUS treated?
ASCUS treatment includes repeated cytology, HPV typization and colposcopy. Protocol of monitoring depended on the result of repeated PAP test.
Should I worry about an ASCUS pap?
Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS) If there are no underlying infections like HPV, the abnormal cell changes causing abnormal pap smears should not be of great concern. However, it is advisable to keep your gynecologist close as you monitor these cell changes to know if they are disappearing.
Can poor hygiene cause abnormal Pap smear?
The doctors at the camp came to the conclusion that most of the cervical cancer detected in Pap smear was due to lack of hygiene.
Should I worry about atypical squamous cells?
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US)—ASC-US means that changes in the cervical cells have been found. The changes are almost always a sign of an HPV infection. The changes may also be a result of infection or inflammation. ASC-US is the most common abnormal Pap test result.
Can ASC-US be normal?
ASCUS paps are considered slightly abnormal results. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, normal, noncancerous cervical cells are present in about 75% of women with ASCUS results. In some cases, receiving an ASCUS pap can result from a poor sample.
When do you repeat Pap ASC-US and negative HPV?
HPV testing (high risk types) is the preferred method for triage of ASCUS results using liquid cytology for ages 25-65. If 21-24 years, repeat PAP in 12 months. Screening practice should not change on the basis of HPV vaccination.
Should I worry about atypical squamous cells?
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US)—ASC-US means that changes in the cervical cells have been found. The changes are almost always a sign of an HPV infection. The changes may also be a result of infection or inflammation. ASC-US is the most common abnormal Pap test result.
Are all abnormal Pap smears caused by 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.
When should I repeat Pap if ascus and negative HPV?
Using the same principle, women with HPV-negative/ASC-US should (like those with a negative Pap) be re-tested at 3 years. There may be an increased risk of cancer among women age 60-64 with HPV-negative/ASC-US; before these women exit screening, their HPV-negative/ASC-US findings require careful consideration.
What causes atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance?
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance is the most common abnormal finding in a Pap test. It may be a sign of infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) or other types of infection, such as a yeast infection.
What are atypical squamous cells?
Atypical squamous cells that are related to an underlying SIL are associated with HPV infection. Following the initial acquisition of hrHPV, there is an inflammatory response that resolves after a short time. The chronic cases progress to more severe persistent infection associated with nuclear and cytoplasmic changes. In the presence of hrHPV 16 and 18, the viral genes E6 and E7 are thought to encode viral proteins in the infected squamous cells that promote the degradation of tumor suppressor gene proteins p53 and Rb respectively, resulting in malignant transformation. [26][47] Mahira Jahic and Elmir Jahic did a prospective analysis of 1,784 Pap smears and found that, out of 254 abnormal smears, overall, 74% persisted, 8% regressed, and 18% progressed to the worse stage.[46] Studies using immunohistochemistry have associated the loss of certain capsid proteins in ASC-US specimens with progression to a more severe form of precancer. Eun Young Ki and colleagues showed that detection of HPV serotypes 16 and 18 in the absence of HPV L1 capsid expression predicted worsening of precancer.[48] HIV positivity has also been known to promote HPV persistence and associated with a higher incidence of ASC-US. [25][49] Furthermore, a low CD4 count and not being on antiretroviral therapy were associated with the persistence of HPV infection. [50][49][31][51][46][47][12]
When to repeat HPV cytology?
In patients younger than 25 years with LSIL, ASC-US HPV-positive, or ASC-US without HPV testing, repeat cytology at 1 year is preferred, and if the result is NILM/ASC-US/LSIL, another repeat cytology is needed in 1 year, after that if the result is negative, then routine age-based screening is resumed. If HPV testing was first done for a patient with ASC-US, and the test was negative, there would be no need for the repeat cytology described above, and routine age-based screening could be directly resumed. Colposcopy is indicated if the first one-year repeat cytology shows HSIL/ASC-H/AGC/AIS, and also when the second one-year repeat cytology shows ASC-US or more severe lesions. [28]
How prevalent is HRHPV in ASC US?
Other studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of hrHPV in patients with ASC-US; one study in Brazil analyzed 1,340 liquid-based cytology specimens and found out that 64% of ASC-US specimens harbored hrHPV.[31] In two separate studies, Mai Nishimura reported identifying hrHPV in 81 % of patients with ASC-US. In contrast, Ming Guo and colleagues reported a hrHPV 16/18 incidence rate of 37% in their ASC-US patient cohort, while one Mexican study found an incidence rate of 11.2 percent. [32][33][34] In another study in Turkey, 129 women with abnormal Pap smears were screened for hrHPV positivity, 94 had ASC-US diagnosis, and 94% of those had a hrHPV. [35]
What are the risks of cervical cancer?
Risk factors commonly associated with the development of cervical cancer include younger age at sexual debut, multiple concurrent sexual partners, chronic intense smoking, HIV infection, and persistent infection with high-risk HPV. Though the Pap test dates back to the late 1940s, it has not been fully adopted and utilized in resource-limited settings for several reasons, including high cost and delay in getting results. Very low rates of Pap smear have been reported in resource-limited countries, including Jamaica at 15% and Nicaragua at 20% national coverage. In some Asian and African countries, Pap testing rates are even lower, or it does not even exist, compared to Jamaica.[23] In other countries, at the time when cervical screening programs were not implemented, opportunistic Pap smear screening tests were used instead, but the rate was also remarkably low. [24]
What is the most common abnormality in a Pap test?
Of all abnormal findings in a Pap test, ASCUS is the most common, with approximately 2 million women a year in the U.S. receiving the news that they have such cells in their cervix. What a doctor should do if the Pap test reveals ASCUS is look again at the sample and see if viruses are present, especially the human papillomavirus (HPV). ASCUS may also appear in women with low hormone levels and those with benign growths, such as cysts or polyps.
What does it mean when a woman has a positive Pap test?
Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS) No woman wants a positive result on a Pap test. A positive result means further testing may be needed, and there is the possibility that those tests could result in a cervical cancer diagnosis.
Can a Pap test show cervical cancer?
Unfortunately, Pap tests have a high percentage of false negative results. That means the test does not indicate ASCUS or other precursors to cervical cancer, when they actually exist. These false negatives may result from the test itself, but just as often result from negligence on the part of the healthcare provider or technician interpreting the test.
What does it mean when a pap smear shows atypical squamous cells of?
Inflammation. A pap smear finding of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) may signal inflammation and nothing more. Inflammation can result from a variety of factors, like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, recent intercourse, or the type of condoms or laundry detergent you use. Inflammation typically goes away on its ...
What does a pap smear show?
A pap smear finding of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) may signal inflammation and nothing more. Inflammation can result from a variety of factors, like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, recent intercourse, or the type of condoms or laundry detergent you use. Inflammation typically goes away on its own. However, if you have a bacterial or yeast infection, your doctor will help by prescribing medicine or recommending changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle that could be causing an imbalance.
Why are my Pap smear results abnormal?
Abnormal cells on your pap smear results are not an indication of cancer. There are numerous reasons your results came back as abnormal. The most common is HPV (human papillomavirus). While HPV is the leading cause of abnormal pap smears, it does not mean you have cervical cancer.
Why do women get pap smears?
Millions of women have a pap smear each year as a means of screening for cervical cancer. It is a simple procedure and part of a woman’s routine visit to a gynecologist. Your doctor swabs some cells from your cervix and sends them to the lab to determine if they are normal or abnormal.
Where Can I Learn More About Abnormal Pap Smears Near Me?
Call or visit one of our physicians at All Women's Care 213-250-9461 if you have received an abnormal pap smear on your last exam. We have been treating women in the local community with the highest standards and can provide you answers to all your questions regarding abnormal pap smear results. Using the most up to date procedures and protocols, we cover a wide range of women’s health issues and are ready to help you.
What is a Pap Smear?
Pap smear or pap test is part of a pelvic exam. Pap is short for Papanicolaou, which comes from the doctor’s name, who studied changes in cervical cells. A pap smear is generally performed on a woman when she reaches the age of 21 unless there are unique health risks involved, such as HIV. The pap smear is the only method available to check the cells on your cervix to locate changes that can lead to cancer. If you are at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI), your doctor at All Women's Care would also check for gonorrhea or chlamydia at the same time a pap smear is done.
Why do you need a second Pap smear?
Your doctor may request a second pap smear as a way of ruling out errors in the test and see if there are signs of HPV DNA. This second test will tell the doctor if you have HPV and that it is the reason your pap smear test came back abnormal. This second test can even alert the doctor if you have one of the specific strains of HPV (16 or 18), which causes cervical cancer.
What does it mean when a Pap smear shows abnormal cells?
Abnormal Pap Smears. If your pap smear test comes back as abnormal , or positive, it means there is an unusual cell appearing in your cervix. This result does not mean you have cervical cancer. Most often, these test results are the sign there have been cell changes caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). HPV is the most common STI (sexually ...
What does it mean when your cervix is abnormal?
An abnormal result indicates there are some cells in your cervix that are not ‘normal’ and need to be checked for possible HPV. ASCUS happens when your cells are not typical. Your doctor at All Women's Care will perform a test with a special liquid to check for HPV. If none is detected, there is no reason for concern.
What does a normal Pap smear look like?
Abnormal Pap Test Results. A normal Pap smear shows healthy squamous cells (flat cells that look like fish scales) from the surface of the cervix. There are no signs of infection and no abnormal cells. Even if your Pap results are healthy, you should be tested regularly.
What is the condition where the vulva is swollen and itching?
Vulvar Dysplasia. A condition in which tissues in the vulva, or external part of the vagina, begin to grow in an unusual way, causing itching or burning; the development of lesions or warts; and bleeding. If untreated, it could turn into vaginal cancer.
Can a Pap smear show HPV?
Your doctor may either repeat your Pap smear, or perform a colposcopy. The lab may test your Pap smear specimen for HPV.
What type of HPV is high risk?
Other doctors will test for a high-risk strain of HPV. HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11 are considered to be high-risk strains that can eventually cause cervical cancers or cancers of the vulva or vagina.
What is an atypical squamous cell?
ASCUS, short for atypical squamous cells of unknown significance, refers to a result on a pap smear. Pap smears are an annual test that all sexually active women should have. The test involves scraping the cells of the cervix to look for abnormal cell changes, which can eventually lead to cervical cancer. When ASCUS is detected on ...
Can you get HPV if you are infected?
There is currently no treatment for HPV, although it is possible for women between certain ages to be vaccinated for HPV to avoid becoming infected with a dangerous strain of the virus. Once you are infected with HPV, the virus will remain in your body, unless your body eliminates the virus itself. Typically, the virus is harmless ...
Does ASCUS necessitate colposcopy?
However, the presence of the virus in conjunction with ASCUS necessitates the colposcopy because, in this context, there is a strong probability that the virus is causing cell changes in the cervix that could eventually lead to cervical cancer if untreated.
