Regular cervical cancer screenings let you know if something is wrong before you have any symptoms. The earlier your doctor finds any problems, the easier they usually are to treat.

The tests that are used to screen for cervical cancer include:

• A human papillomavirus (HPV) test. To do this test, your doctor takes a sample of cells from your cervix. This test looks for an infection of HPV in the cervix. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). High-risk types of HPV (such as types 16 and 18) can lead to cervical cancer over time if they are not treated. In some cases, you may be able to self-collect your own HPV test sample. Your doctor can let you know if this is an option for you.
• A Pap test. This test also requires a small sample of cells from your cervix. This test checks for changes in the cells of the cervix. Some kinds of cell changes can lead to cancer.
• A Pap test and an HPV test. Sometimes an HPV test and a Pap test are done at the same time. Having both tests is called co-testing.

If your doctor contacts you to say your test results are abnormal, it does not mean you have cancer. An abnormal (positive) HPV test means high-risk HPV was found. If you have an abnormal HPV test, you may need a follow-up HPV test or Pap test, or both. This depends on your risk factors and health history.

An abnormal Pap test means there are cells on your cervix that don't look like normal healthy cells. These cell changes may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. They often change due to factors such as:

• Infection.
• Inflammation.
• Precancer.
• Cancer.

Your doctor may use any of these terms to describe the changes that aren't cancer:

• Atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASC-US)
• Squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL)
• Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)
• Dysplasia
• Atypical glandular cells (AGC)

ASC-US is the most common abnormal finding from a Pap test. Your doctor may do an HPV test to see if high-risk HPV is causing these changes. Other things that may cause these cell changes include a yeast infection, inflammation, and lower hormone levels during menopause.

When you hear SIL, this means abnormal cells were found on the surface of the cervix. They're usually classified as low-grade SIL (LSIL) or high-grade SIL (HSIL).

• In LSIL, the cells look mildly abnormal. This might also be called CIN1 and mild dysplasia. It might go away without treatment.
• HSIL means there are seriously abnormal cells. They are less likely to go away on their own. They are also more likely to become cancer over time if they aren't treated. This is also called CIN2 or CIN3 and moderate to severe dysplasia. CIN3 is the most serious precancer.

AGC means that the glandular cells are abnormal. They have features that could be cancer or precancer.

If abnormal cells are confirmed to be ASC-US, LSIL, CIN1, or mild dysplasia, your HPV test results and health history can guide the next steps. You may need to have a follow-up HPV test, with or without a Pap test. Or in some cases, you may need a colposcopy. This procedure lets your doctor closely examine your cervix using a special magnifying scope.

If you have HSIL, CIN2 or 3, moderate to severe dysplasia, or AGC, the next step is usually a colposcopy. A biopsy may be done to remove more tissue to be checked for abnormal cells. In some cases, you may need treatment right away.

In most cases, precancer can be treated in your doctor's office or in a hospital as an outpatient. This means you go home the same day.

If you have any questions about your HPV or Pap test results, talk with your doctor. And remember that the earlier cervical cell changes are found, the easier they are to treat.