Most women consider the procedure only to be mildly uncomfortable. The sample of cells are then transferred onto a slide which is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope. You should receive the result of your smear test in writing within six weeks from the date of your test. Most women receive a normal result, which means that the cells seen on the slide in the laboratory were considered to be normal. These women are recalled for another routine smear test within three to five years.
Some women receive an abnormal result.
This means the laboratory has identified some cell changes which need further investigation. Depending upon the degree of changes, women may be asked to have a repeat smear in six or twelve months, or may be referred for colposcopy . A small proportion of women are asked to return for a second smear test as the first was considered to be inadequate. This simply means the laboratory was not able to assess the cells on the slide to give a result. This may be because of the presence of blood obscuring the cells, or because the sample of cells was smeared too thick or thin.