You write a Pap result as "negative" and the patient hears bad news. You say "precancerous" and they already think they have cancer. The words you use every day may be the very thing standing between your patient and the care they need.
Nearly 9 out of 10 adults in the United States struggle with health literacy, according to the Center for Health Care Strategies. That means most patients cannot reliably interpret the clinical language that feels second nature to you. When health content uses words that mean one thing in a clinic and another in everyday life, patients don't just get confused — they get scared, avoid follow-up, and make decisions based on the wrong information.
Here are five words that cause the most trouble in gynecologic health content — and what to say instead.
What percentage of patients correctly understood the medical term 'occult infection' in a 2022 study published in JAMA Network Open?
Select one answer.
Negative
In everyday English, "negative" means bad. A negative performance review. Negative feedback. Negative attitude. But in gynecology, a negative Pap result is the best possible news. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explains that a negative result means no cell changes were found. Yet patients routinely hear "negative" and assume something is wrong.
Say this instead: "Your results are normal. No cell changes were detected."
Positive
Here's the flip side. "Positive" sounds good in daily life — positive thinking, positive feedback, a positive outlook. But a positive HPV test means the virus was detected and requires monitoring. The emotional whiplash is real. Patients who just got a "positive" result often need reassurance that this does not mean cancer.
Say this instead: "The test found HPV. Let me explain what that means and what we do next."
Abnormal
"Abnormal" is one of the most loaded words in gynecology. An abnormal Pap result sounds catastrophic. In reality, the most common abnormal result — ASC-US (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) — often means minor cell changes that resolve on their own. But patients don't hear the nuance. They hear "abnormal" and assume the worst.
Say this instead: "Your Pap showed some minor cell changes. Most of the time these go away without treatment."
Precancerous
This word terrifies patients — and for good reason. It sounds like you already have cancer, just with a prefix. In gynecology, "precancerous" typically refers to cervical dysplasia (CIN), which is a cell change that may never progress to cancer. ACOG guidelines emphasize that most low-grade lesions regress spontaneously. But the word itself can cause enough anxiety to make patients avoid follow-up entirely.
Say this instead: "We found some cell changes that are not cancer. We'll monitor them to make sure they don't become a problem."
ASC-US
This acronym is the most common abnormal Pap result, yet it means nothing to patients. ASC-US stands for "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance" — a phrase that is itself confusing. Patients who see "ASC-US" on a portal message or lab report often panic because they cannot decode what it means.
Say this instead: "Your result showed some cells that look slightly different than usual. This is very common and usually not serious."
The bottom line
A 2022 study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients frequently misunderstand common medical phrases and assign the opposite meaning of what was intended. The study's lead author put it plainly: "You could be the smartest doctor in the world, yet you're useless if your patients don't understand what you are saying."
Every word in your patient education materials, your portal messages, and your clinical conversations is either building trust or creating confusion. Choosing plain language over clinical jargon is not dumbing it down — it's making sure your message actually lands.
How the Resident Expert Can Help
Dr. Jill Palko, founder of Dr. Jill at Your Cervix, is a board-certified OB/GYN who specializes in translating complex clinical information into clear, patient-centered health content. She understands the science behind every term and knows exactly how to communicate it without losing accuracy or trust. Whether you need patient education materials, website content, or provider-facing communications, Dr. Jill brings clinical credibility and editorial precision to every project. Her work helps health organizations close the gap between what clinicians mean and what patients actually hear.