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Abnormal Pap Test
- Topic Overview
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Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
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Most cervical cell changes that cause an abnormal Pap test are the result of sexual transmission of HPV disease. High-risk sexual behaviors by you or your partner at some time, possibly even many years ago, may lead to HPV infection. High-risk sexual behaviors increase your risk of infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Other risk factors that may also play a role in increasing your risk for cervical cell changes include:
- Smoking.
- Having an impaired immune system.
- Having multiple full-term pregnancies (high parity).
- Being exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, though this is rare.
If you have had one abnormal Pap test result, you may be at higher risk for having another abnormal Pap test in the future.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: December 28, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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