Pap Test Results: What Groups 1, 2, 3a, 3b and 4 Mean
Your Pap test result has arrived and it says group 2, 3a or 3b, and nobody explained what that means. The most important thing to know right away: the group on the report is not a diagnosis but a description of how the cells look in the smear, and the vast majority of abnormal results have nothing to do with malignancy. In this article we explain what each group means and what the next step is for each of them.
What does the Pap test show?
The Pap test is a screening examination in which cells taken from the cervix are examined under a microscope. The goal is to spot cell changes years before they could become serious, which is exactly why the test is done regularly rather than only when symptoms appear. Read how the examination itself works in our article Pap test: what it looks like and when to do it.
What do the groups on the report mean?
In Serbia the result is most often reported in groups 1 to 5, following the Papanicolaou classification:
- Group 1: a normal finding, the cells look normal.
- Group 2: the most common finding in practice. The cells show benign changes, usually caused by inflammation or irritation. It does not mean a premalignant change; if needed, the inflammation is treated and the test repeated.
- Group 3a: atypical cells are present, usually within mild to moderate dysplasia. The finding requires further diagnostics and follow-up, most often colposcopy and HPV typing.
- Group 3b: the changes are more pronounced (more severe dysplasia) and are always investigated further, as a rule with colposcopy and a targeted biopsy.
- Group 4: a finding that raises suspicion of carcinoma in situ, a change confined to the surface layer. Further diagnostics and treatment are necessary.
- Group 5: a finding that indicates an invasive malignant change and requires urgent further work-up.
Every finding is interpreted in context: your age, previous results, HPV status and the examination itself. The final word always belongs to the gynecologist who follows you, not to the number on the paper.
Group 3 does not mean cancer
A 3a or 3b finding is understandably frightening, but dysplasia is not cancer: these are altered cells which, caught in time, are successfully monitored and treated. Some mild dysplasias even resolve on their own, especially in younger women. What a group 3 finding does require is that you do not ignore it: additional diagnostics clarify what kind of change it is and whether treatment is needed at all, or only follow-up.
Next steps by group
For group 2 the gynecologist treats the inflammation if needed and schedules a control test. For groups 3a and 3b, colposcopy (an examination of the cervix under magnification) and HPV PCR typing are done, because a persistent HPV infection is the most common cause of dysplasia; a targeted biopsy is taken when indicated. All of these examinations are available at the Miren Medic clinic within our gynecology department, so the diagnostics are completed quickly and in one place.
Examination prices
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Pap test | 2.000 RSD |
| ThinPrep Pap test | 3.500 RSD |
| HPV PCR typing | 10.000 RSD |
| Colposcopy | 6.000 to 8.000 RSD |
| Gynecological examination | 10.000 to 12.000 RSD |
Frequently asked questions
What does Pap test group 2 mean?
Group 2 is the most common finding and indicates benign cell changes, usually caused by inflammation or irritation. It is not a premalignant change; the gynecologist treats the inflammation if needed and schedules a control test.
What does Pap test group 3a mean?
Group 3a means atypical cells were found in the smear, usually within mild to moderate dysplasia. The finding requires additional diagnostics, most often colposcopy and HPV typing, and regular follow-up with your gynecologist.
Is Pap group 3 cancer?
No. Group 3 indicates dysplasia, altered cells that are not malignant. Caught in time, dysplasia is successfully monitored and treated, and some mild changes resolve on their own. The only essential thing is not to ignore the finding and to complete the diagnostics your gynecologist recommends.
How often should a Pap test be done?
For most women the recommendation is once a year, as part of the regular gynecological check-up. If the previous finding was abnormal, the gynecologist sets a shorter follow-up interval.
Book an examination
If your finding is abnormal or more than a year has passed since your last Pap test, book an examination at the Miren Medic clinic. In one place we do the Pap and ThinPrep tests, HPV typing and colposcopy, with results explained without waiting.
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Medically reviewed by
Specialist in gynecology and obstetrics
