Can pregnancy be continued if Pap smear shows abnormal cells? - Dr. Premlata Subhash
One can still continue with pregnancy even if the cervical smear shows abnormal cells. The cervical cancer takes long time to develop into a full-fledged cancer because the lesion in whatever smear is detecting, it is in very early age and that is the advantage of the pap smear. If it is at an abnormal age, we divide it into 3 categories, that is CIN 1, CIN2 and CIN 3. CIN is Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia. So if the epithelium if it is invaded to one third or third or the whole length of the epithelium, that way the CIN 1 , 2,and 3 are categorized. So CIN 1 or 2 are relatively safer and there should not be any fear at all. But CIN 3 we should be worried. But in any case if there is abnormal cells found in pap smear, we would be further conforming it by a colposcopy and a directed biopsy and depending ion the biopsy results, the patients will be advised what to do next. Unless 3 to 6 months we can give and repeat pap smear if biopsy is not proving anything or if biopsy is proving CI Insitu, then accordingly we can decide what further treatment should be advised to pregnant women. Usually in the latter part of the pregnancy, we advise the women to continue with the pregnancy and then we advised detailed testing and go for the surgery or treatment that is advised. If there are any abnormal changes in the smear which is CIN 3 or CI Insitu, the simple surgical procedures can be advised in pregnant women like cervical conization or LEEP, a procedure. So these are the procedures which can have a short day care admission and the person can still think of continuing with pregnancy. It is a mutual agreement how the patient what to go about it and the convenience of the patient and the doctor. So it is mutually at their own comfort level.
