Abnormal PAP

​The Papanicolaou test, also known as a PAP smear, is a screening tool to detect pre-cancerous or cancerous cells of the cervix. It can also detect for the presence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is known to be the causative agent for cervical cancer. Having routine PAPs in the office is an effective way to prevent cervical cells from ever fully transforming into cancer. If a PAP were ever abnormal, a colposcopy would then be performed for further evaluation, and those abnormal cells could eventually be removed via an excisional procedure such as a LEEP. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer in this country because of these diagnostic tests.