Can bacterial vaginosis cause abnormal pap?

[2littleangels]

I am a 30-year-old mother of two little girls (ages 4 and 2).  I recently had the first abnormal pap I've ever had.  It showed "atypical glandular cells."  I was wondering if Bacterial Vaginosis could cause such a finding on the pap?  Thank you!!

Emily

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi Emily,
no , bacterial vaginosis did not cause your abnormal pap smear.
atypical glandular cells (AGS) on a pap smear is a serious report.
Yes, it could be from having your period at the time of the pap. But 40% of the time a significant precancerous change is picked up when a women with a AGS pap is evaluated.
It is important that you see a gynecologist and have a colposcopy
best wishes

[2littleangels]

Thank you SO MUCH for your reply.  I am not really sure if I was having my period when my pap was done.  A few months ago, I was having pain on my left side.  I had an ultrasound and a 5 CM cyst was discovered on the left ovary.  I missed my period completely that month.  Then I started bleeding and bled for the entire month of October.  It was never really heavy bleeding like a period.  And on some days, it would only be some bright red blood, streaked through my cervical mucous.  Other days I would have thin red blood for about an hour and then nothing.  I was having symptoms of BV, so I went to see my gyn.  They did my annual pap since it was due.  On the day I had it done, I was having some brownish discharge in my cervical mucous.  So I don't really know if that was period or just more bleeding from the cyst or something.  

I had another ultrasound about 2 months ago.  The cyst was getting smaller but was still there.  Once I'd received the abnormal pap results, I made an appt. with my gyn.  He did a colposcopy, cervical biopsies, endocervical curettage, and a uterine biopsy.  He said he saw a "few changes on the cervix."  I will not know until next week about my results.  I posted on this forum because I was hoping BV could have been the cause of the abnormal pap.  The only time I've ever had BV was during both of my pregnancies.  But my symptoms have been similar for over a month.  On one of my gyn visits for an ultrasound, they checked for BV and found nothing.  

I continue to have very strange symptoms including irregular bleeding, slight abdominal pain, kidney and bladder pain, and strange vaginal discharge.  Some days, the discharge is very thin and leaves a brownish stain in my underwear.  Other days, it is blood in the cervical mucous.  Some days it is brownish with black specs in it.

This is all very odd to me.  I've always had regular periods (every 27-29 days).  I've never had any STD's.  My husband and I were virgins when we married (yes...really true).  Neither of us has ever had another sexual partner.  When my pap was abnormal, they checked for HPV (standard procedure I guess).  The test was negative.

I know I have a lot of symptoms of a serious problem, but I am hoping it can all be explained by the cyst or endometriosis or something.  Do you have any more info or suggestions for me?

[akg]

Hi There,
thank you for the additional information. If you continue to have abnormal discharge and bleeding after the BV is treated, you need to have another check of your cervix. Back to what I was saying earlier:

Atypical glandular cells on a pap smear can be associated with the finding of a precancerous or cancerous change of the cervix in 40 % of the time. Occasionally AGS is due to a problem from the inside of the uterus or the ovary. Mostly it is from an abnormality of the cervix. Sometime, it requires a LEEP excision to make the diagnosis of an abnormality on the cervix. You should ask your gynecologist about that.

I am glad that you are getting follow up for your ovarian cyst. I agree with the plan to repeat the ultrasound
best wishes to you.