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As soon as you get your results, your doctor will want to schedule a follow-up appointment. Do not postpone this appointment. Make the appointment for sometime within the next one to two weeks.  Some women feel so anxious or upset about their test results that they avoid making follow-up appointments or skip their scheduled follow-up appointments. Abnormal Pap test results can be scary, but don’t give in to the urge to avoid thinking about them. Remember: you probably do not have cancer, and even if you do, starting treatment as early as possible will be crucial. If you had your Pap smear done by a general practitioner, you may be referred to a gynecologist for your follow-up appointment. When you go to your follow-up appointment, ask your doctor to clarify your results and explain them in detail. Ask what further testing he or she recommends and what comes next. Consider bringing a spouse, partner, or trusted friend to this appointment. When you are worried or upset, it can be difficult to listen carefully and remember everything your doctor tells you. Having someone else with you can serve two purposes: first, the emotional support will calm you down so that you can be a more attentive listener, and second, the other person can also listen carefully to the doctor and remind you later about details you may have missed. If you haven't already had this test, it may help your doctor better understand the cause of your abnormal Pap smear results and help him or her decide how to proceed with your treatment. For some abnormal test results, especially ASCUS and CIN 1, your doctor may suggest simply waiting and retesting in a few months. Abnormal cells often go away on their own, which is why you may need no treatment at all. If your abnormal Pap smear was caused by an HPV infection, your body may be able to clear the virus naturally. If your doctor suspects that your abnormal Pap smear results may have hormonal causes, he or she may write you a prescription to correct your hormone balance. Your doctor may also suggest a colposcopy: a procedure in which a doctor uses a magnifying device called a colposcope to examine your cervix more closely. If your doctor sees any potential problem areas, he or she can take a cervical biopsy for further testing.  If you might be pregnant, mention it to your doctor before a colposcopy. The risk of miscarriage is small, but you may have bleeding after the procedure. Do not insert anything into your vagina (no sex, no tampons, and no douches or medicines) for at least 24 hours before a scheduled colposcopy.
Make a follow-up appointment with your doctor. Discuss your results with your doctor. Get an HPV test. Consider watching and waiting. Discuss hormonal causes. Ask about a colposcopy.