• What are abnormal cervical cells?
• What causes abnormal cervical cells?
• How are abnormal cervical cells detected?
• How are Pap test results reported?
• Are there additional tests for women diagnosed with abnormal cervical cells?
• Can abnormal cervical cells be treated?

If the results of a Pap test indicate that you have abnormal cervical cells, it's important to follow your healthcare professional's recommendations for more testing, such as repeat Pap testing, HPV DNA testing, a colposcopy, and possible biopsy.

An abnormal biopsy result may be reported as CIN or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Neoplasia means an abnormal growth of cells. Intraepithelial refers to the layer of cells that forms the surface of the cervix. The term CIN, along with a number (1 to 3), describes how much of the thickness of the lining of the cervix contains abnormal cells. A diagnosis of CIN 3 means there are severely abnormal cervical cells throughout the entire thickness of the lining of the cervix.

Most abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix will eventually go away because an immune response from the body occurs on its own. If the abnormalities are mild, the healthcare professional may choose to closely monitor them. However, if the abnormalities are more severe, removing these cells can almost always prevent cervical cancer from developing in the future.