Do not use have sex, use tampons, or birth control foams or jellies for 5 days before the exam. For 48 hours before the exam, take showers instead of a tub bath. Tell your doctor if you are having any signs of infection like discharge or itching. These problems may need to be taken care of before your Pap smear. While an abnormal Pap smear may be a sign of cancer, many different changes on your cervix can cause an abnormal Pap smear.
Pap smears can be abnormal if the cervix is inflamed or irritated.
This can be caused by an infection of the cervix, douching, menopausal changes, or irritation. The cervix may also be going through some changes called dysplasia. Dysplasia means the cells on the Pap smear look abnormal under the microscope. Dysplasia isn't the same thing as cancer but may lead to cancer if it is not treated.