Can age and medication play a role in abnormal pap smear.

No: Most of the time, the abnormal cell changes are caused by certain types of human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection. Usually these cell changes go away on their own. But certain types of HPV have been linked to cervical cancer. That's why regular Pap tests are so important. Sometimes the changed cells are due to other types of infection, such as those caused by bacteria or yeast. These infections can be treated. In women who have been through menopause, a Pap test may find cell changes that are just the result of getting older.

Yes: Some chemotherapy can increase the risk of an abnormal pap.In women infected with HPV, drugs to treat autoimmune disease and steroids can hinder the immune system's ability to control the virus and this increases the risk of abnormalities.It is common to have a low grade abnormal pap in your teens and twenties when first infected. This usually clears without treatment. It's more worrisome after 35