Abnormal Pap Smears And HPV Infections Specialist

Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center Our Services Abnormal Pap Smears and HPV Infections
Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center - - OB/GYN

Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center

OB/GYNs located in Beverly Hills, CA

As part of routine womens exams, Pap smears are performed, checking for abnormal cell changes and possible HPV infections. An abnormal Pap smear can be an indication of pre-cancer cells forming; an HPV infection can also be linked to cervical cancer and other health problems. Dr. Rebecca Brown, Dr. Jennifer Chen, Dr. Lily Lee, Dr. Rahil Patel, Dr. Henrietta Stancz-Szeder, Dr. Karen Toubi, Dr. Kathleen Valenton, Dr. Wendy Kim Waldman, and Dr. Peter Weiss, at Rodeo Drive Women’s Health Center in Beverly Hills, California, perform Pap smears and HPV testing, with treatment and ongoing monitoring for abnormal Pap smears and HPV infections.

Abnormal Pap Smears and HPV Infections Q & A

What is an “abnormal” Pap smear?

When you receive a Pap smear, the tissue sample from your cervix is tested for abnormal changes in the cells. An abnormal Pap smear indicates there are changes in the cells, which can be an indication of a problem in the cervix. In some cases, these abnormal cells can become cancerous. Early detection of these cells can alert your physician to begin treatment or to continue monitoring the cervical cells.

Is an HPV infection dangerous?

HPV, or the human papillomavirus, is a common virus that has more than 100 strains. About 40 of the strains are sexually transmitted, but the rest are not. An HPV infection can go away on its own, but it should be monitored. HPV infections are linked to cervical cancer, which is why it’s important to detect it early and have your OB/GYN monitor for changes in your cervical cells.

What happens if I have an abnormal pap smear or an HPV infection?

If your OB/GYN specialist detects an abnormal Pap smear or HPV infection, it does not necessarily mean you will get cervical cancer. Often, no treatment is needed, just more frequent Pap smears and testing to monitor the cells in the cervix. Usually, your provider will need to perform a colposcopy which is an examination of your cervix where your doctor will use a device called a colposcope to examine your cervix using magnification. This is done in our office. A cervical and endometrial biopsy may be performed to look closer at the abnormal cells for possible signs of cancer.

If you have an HPV infection, testing to determine the strain can be completed to find out if it’s a strain linked to cervical cancer. Some HPV infections can cause warts; 90% of genital warts are caused by an HPV infection. Many types of HPV are low-risk with no symptoms, but testing to find the type of strain is important to understand possible risks of the infection.

What are the treatment options for abnormal cervical cells?

Your OB/GYN uses both abnormal Pap smears and HPV infection for early detection and treatment of cervix cancer. If there are abnormal cells, they could heal on their own. Other options include removing the abnormal cells to prevent cancer from forming. Some of the treatments for removing abnormal cervical cells include loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and Cryotherapy. Both the LEEP procedure and cryotherapy are performed in our office by our experienced physicians.

Major Insurance Providers Accepted

At Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a list of some of the plans we accept. Please contact our office for insurance eligibility.

Aetna
Anthem Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Cigna
Coventry
Medicare
Meritain Health
MultiPlan
Oxford Health Plans
SAG-AFTRA