I cannot comment on whether this interval is usual practice. I can appreciate your concern and feeling anxious.
How did you find out about the pap smear result? What exactly was meant by positive?
Pap smear results are reported as normal, unclear and abnormal.
Assuming your result is abnormal. this can indicate cell changes were found on your cervix. This usually does not mean that you have cervical cancer.
Abnormal changes on your cervix are likely caused by HPV. The changes may be minor (low-grade) or serious (high-grade). Most of the time, minor changes go back to normal on their own.
But more serious changes can turn into cancer if they are not removed. The more serious changes are often called “precancer” because they are not yet cancer, but they can turn into cancer over time. It is important to make sure these changes do not get worse.
I will not make excuses for the delay in getting an appointment, but an optimistic look on this would be that test result is not so abnormal that you need to be seen sooner.
If you have confidence in your physician then wait until March. If not, you could always seek a second opinion and see if you can get an earlier appointment with another gynecologist.
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Hello deanne92,
I cannot comment on whether this interval is usual practice. I can appreciate your concern and feeling anxious.
How did you find out about the pap smear result? What exactly was meant by positive?
Pap smear results are reported as normal, unclear and abnormal.
Assuming your result is abnormal. this can indicate cell changes were found on your cervix. This usually does not mean that you have cervical cancer.
Abnormal changes on your cervix are likely caused by HPV. The changes may be minor (low-grade) or serious (high-grade). Most of the time, minor changes go back to normal on their own.
But more serious changes can turn into cancer if they are not removed. The more serious changes are often called “precancer” because they are not yet cancer, but they can turn into cancer over time. It is important to make sure these changes do not get worse.
I will not make excuses for the delay in getting an appointment, but an optimistic look on this would be that test result is not so abnormal that you need to be seen sooner.
If you have confidence in your physician then wait until March. If not, you could always seek a second opinion and see if you can get an earlier appointment with another gynecologist.
Please keep us updated.
December 15, 2015 - 8:08amRegards,
Maryann
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