Papanicolaou (PAP)

Indications & Guidelines for a Pap Smear

• Used for screening of precancerous or cancerous changes on the cervix or vagina if you had a hysterectomy. 
• Current evidence suggests that infection with HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
• Infection with HPV can occur in the absence of sexual intercourse through hand and/or mouth-to-genital contact. Therefore, it is important to consider Pap smear for people who have not had intercourse and lesbian patients.

    Screening Guidelines

• United States Preventative Services Task Force
• American Cancer Society
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP)



Pap Smear Results

ASC-US:     Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance

ASC-H:       Atypical Squamous Cells, cannot rule out High Grade

AGC:           Atypical Glandular Cells

LSIL:           Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Neoplasia (also called mild dysplasia)

HSIL:          High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Neoplasia (also called moderate or severe dysplasia

To learn more about your PAP results please visit: HPV and Pap Test Results for more information.