Pap smear
The Pap test (or Pap smear) can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early. It looks for precancerous cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately. The Pap test is recommended for all women between the ages of 21 and 65 years old.
Understanding Your Pap Test Results
Pap test results help us check the health of the cells on your cervix. Results may be normal, unclear, or abnormal.
Normal Result
A normal result means your cervical cells look healthy. This is good news. Regular Pap tests are still important because changes can happen over time.
Unclear Result
An unclear result is very common and usually not a cause for concern. It means some cells look slightly different, but not clearly abnormal. This can be caused by things like inflammation, infection, recent intercourse, pregnancy, hormonal changes, or HPV. Often, a repeat test or additional screening is all that is needed.
Abnormal Result
An abnormal result means some cell changes were seen. This does not usually mean cancer, but it is very important to be certain. Cell changes can be caused by HPV, infections, inflammation, or other normal changes in the body. If changes are more significant, the licensed medical professional will recommend follow-up to keep you healthy.
A licensed medical professional will explain your results and help guide the next steps. Finding changes early allows for prompt care and better outcomes.
Sexual Health Education, Assessment & Referrals
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common and can be passed from person to person through sexual activity. Many STIs do not cause symptoms, or symptoms may be mild, which means someone can have an infection without knowing it. Because of this, regular testing and timely care are important for protecting your health and the health of others.
At Piedmont Women’s Center, we are committed to supporting you with compassionate care. Our licensed medical staff are available to:
- Assess your health concerns
- Provide education about STI prevention, symptoms, and testing
- Discuss next steps and answer your questions
- Offer referrals to trusted community providers for comprehensive STI testing and treatment
Our goal is to ensure you feel informed, supported, and cared for every step of the way. You are not alone. We are here to help guide you toward the care that best meets your needs.
Approximately 20 million new cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STD/STI) occur every year in the US. Of the millions of affected people, over 50% of them are aged 15-24!
Additionally, the CDC has released a list of diseases and related conditions, as well as a fact sheet of ways young adults can prevent STD’s and stay healthy.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that “if you are diagnosed with an STD, know that all can be treated with medicine and some can be cured entirely.”