FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND TREATMENT
No endocervical cells seen. If the cytologists report a smear as normal, but did not get an adequate sample of the inside (endocervical) cells, they may suggest repeating the smear in one year rather than two.
Benign changes. Depending on the degree of abnormality, in most cases the cytologists will recommend a repeat smear, usually at one year. If several consecutive smears show nonspecific benign changes further investigation may be recommended.
Wart virus changes. If wart virus change is present a repeat smear will usually be recommended in three to six months. There is no point treating the cervix to try to get rid of it (unless there are obvious warty looking things on the cervix; the doctor would have noticed if there were, and usually there are not). The wart-infected part of the cervix may be treated if a woman is having treatment for dysplastic changes as well, but it is rarely treated on its own. The changes will often be gone on the next smear. If a woman has had two or three consecutive smears, at six months intervals, all showing wart virus change, there may be a case for examining her cervix further with the biopsy technique described below.
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