Unsatisfactory Pap Smear Results

Hi there,
I am a 22 year old female and I got a pap test done about 3 weeks ago. The doctor told me that I would be notified if anything was wrong. Well, today I got a call that the results of my pap smear were unsatisfactory due to inflammation. I am obviously concerned, I don't know what could be causing this inflammation since I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with my health. Any thoughts or ideas on this? Should I be worried??

[Arti Sharma, M.D.]

Hello!
A Pap test is usually not recommended during active inflammation or bleeding. An unsatisfactory pap test result can be caused due to a number of factors like poor sample collection, obscuring inflammation or blood, use of lubricants, or interpretive errors. Any irritation or infection may be a cause of inflammation. Inflammation is a common finding on pap smears .It is important to monitor such patients with unsatisfactory results closely and repeat tests may be considered within 2 to 4 months. It is best to discuss your concerns with your doctor and get your doubts clarified. Do keep us posted.
Take care and best regards!