Abnormal Pap smear result? What next?

This post is for all of you who have gotten an abnormal pap smear report and wondered 'What is going to happen next?'

The short answer is 'It depends'.

Depending on what the initial report says and your current age, you could be recommended to just 'Watch and wait and repeat' or you could be recommended to have some type of treatment (for example, if there was inflammation on the pap causing ASCUS - atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) or you could be referred for further examination with a colposcopy procedure.

When I see patients for abnormal pap smear results, they have usually already had a colposcopy and been told that they need surgery to remove the abnormal cells. They then looked online to see if there was a way to avoid surgery and they found me.

There are many reasons to want to avoid surgery but for those who have sought me out, they had several different reasons, including wanting to avoid a repeat surgery because they had already had an excisional procedure (LEEP or Cold Knife Cone) and it didn't resolve the root cause of the abnormal pap or they wanted to preserve the integrity of their cervix for future child-bearing, knowing from the information they found online that excision of the cervix dramatically increases the risk of incompetent cervix or preterm labor or miscarriage or they read success stories online from those who had an abnormal pap smear and elected to have a more natural approach.

We won't be taking a deep dive here into the various types of abnormal pap smears and which natural treatment approach is appropriate for each of the abnormal pap smear types but there are some basics I want to share and if you want a deeper dive you can access my online course here.

These basic lifestyle choices are incorporated into all of the natural treatment options for abnormal pap smears at every level of severity:

• Avoid exposure to smoke! Smoke is a catalyst for the HPV virus which is responsible for almost all abnormal pap smear results.

• If you are not in a monogamous relationship then use condoms to decrease the chances of exposure to the HPV viruses that cause abnormal cells to appear on your pap smear.

• Self-love and self-care! By recognizing your need for self care you improve your response to stress and therefore your immune capacity. Your immune system is your primary weapon against HPV!

• Focused nutrition! There are specific nutrients that help discourage HPV proliferation and diet choices and supplementation of essential anti-viral nutrients are key to stopping the pre-cancerous activity and regaining a normal pap smear result.

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Don't overdo it but your goal is to drink 50% your body weight in ounces of water daily to help your cells do their best to keep you healthy. If you weigh 150 pounds that would be 75 ounces of water a day.

If you’re ready to go deeper, my new Pap Matters online course offers a more detailed roadmap. You'll recieve a specific handout to guide you about foods to eat and foods to avoid. But food can't provide 100% of what you need to help you in the fight against HPV activity. There are basic supplements you can take to increase your chances of a normal pap smear report in the future. This is the short list:

• Vitamin A

• 5-MTHF

• Green tea extract

• Curcumin

• Turkey tail mushroom

• Selenium

You can find these nutrients on our online supplements store here.

In addition to targeted nutrition and supplementation, I also offer topical treatment options tailored to your diagnosis. This may include herbal vaginal suppositories or a topical caustic application to the cervix called 'escharotic' therapy because the caustic solution (which must be freshly mixed at the time of application in order to get best results so PLEASE do not purchase these online from nefarious unqualified individuals!) can cause abnormal cells to disintegrate and slough off rapidly from the top of the cervix - causing a brief formation of an 'eschar' (scar) which heals rapidly with appropriate treatment.

So don't fret! If your provider wants to do the colposcopy, then take some curcumin about 20 minutes before the procedure to minimize discomfort and if surgery is recommended and you want a more natural treatment option, you can request a consultation with me to see if that is a better option for you. I do offer a virtual option if you are not in my area.

Introducing: Pap Matters

After years of working with patients who came to me looking for clarity and options, I created the Pap Matters: Understanding & Addressing Abnormal Pap Smears course. It’s designed to help you understand your Pap smear results, explore holistic and conventional care options, and feel confident in your next steps.

The course includes:

• A breakdown of Pap terms like ASCUS, LSIL, and CIN

• Guidance on lifestyle, nutrition, and immune support

• Downloadable resources

• Information on when to consider various treatments

• Practical, compassionate education—rooted in clinical experience

This is my first course, and I’m excited to continue creating trusted resources to support you in making informed, empowered decisions.

Learn more and enroll here

My goal is for you to make an informed decision so you can achieve your best outcome.