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If the results of your smear test are ‘abnormal’, it’s natural to feel worried. However, it’s important to remember that smear tests are not a test for cancer and there can be many other reasons for the result such as inflammation or infection. Smear tests allow doctors and nurses to identify – and then treat if required – any abnormal cells on the cervix which may otherwise have developed into cervical cancer over time.

This is why it is important that you attend any follow-up smear tests or appointments your doctor or nurse might suggest. If your smear test result worries you, bear in mind that as many as 1 in 10 smear test results require a follow-up visit. In fact an abnormal result is more common than you might expect with around 270,000 women in England receiving an abnormal result every year [12].

If you are still worried, talk to your doctor or nurse.

Understanding your smear test results

Abnormal
You may have been told that you have an ‘abnormal result’. This means that the laboratory found some abnormal cells from the sample taken from your cervix. It’s natural to feel worried when you are told the result is abnormal.

However, it’s important to remember that smear tests are absolutely not a test for cancer. Smear tests allow doctors and nurses to identify – and then treat if required – any abnormal cells on the cervix which could develop into cervical cancer. And just because the cells are abnormal doesn't necessarily mean that you need treatment – many abnormalities clear themselves spontaneously.

You may be asked for a second smear test or, in some cases, you may be referred for a colposcopy (see below). Your doctor or nurse will advise you on what happens next and will be able to answer any questions you have.

Borderline
If you have been told you have a ‘borderline’ smear result, again do not worry. This means that the laboratory did see some kind of abnormal cells in the sample, but that they were so near to normal that it is likely that they will soon return to normal. In this case, you will probably be asked for a return smear after 6-12 months.

Inadequate
Some women are told they have an ‘inadequate result.’ This means that the laboratory was not able to assess the cells on the slide. There are many reasons for this: it could be that some blood obscured the cells or because the sample cells were smeared too thickly or too thinly on the glass slide. In this case, you will probably be asked back for a second smear.

Colposcopy
If you have an abnormal smear test result, your doctor may refer you for a colposcopy at the local hospital.

A colposcopy is performed by specially trained doctors or nurses with an instrument called a colposcope – a powerful, illuminated microscope which allows the doctor or nurse to examine your cervix more closely. It’s a similar procedure to a smear test in that the doctor or nurse will use a speculum to open your vagina to see your cervix more closely. This allows them to assess the extent of the abnormal cells on the cervix and to determine the appropriate treatment for you.

Sometimes, a sample of tissue (called a biopsy) will be taken from the cervix for further diagnosis, or sometimes the cervix is actually treated at this time. Alternatively, you might simply be asked to return for a follow-up smear.

If you feel worried, or have any more questions, always talk to your doctor or nurse.

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