Cervical screening is an important step in stopping the spread of cervical cancer. This cancer is considered a “silent killer” since it does not have early warning signs. Therefore, it is affecting large numbers of women worldwide. Many women in the US suffer from this cancer and get treatment yearly. Prevention is the key to this disease, so professionals always recommend regular pap smear testing. This is an important screening that a gynecologist performs. It detects changes in cervix cells that could develop into cancer cells over time. This test might be a little discomforting but never causes any pain. Let’s look at some facts to understand the pap smear working and its importance.
Pap smear needs preparations
Do you know what causes cervical cancer? It is the HPV virus that is the number 1 cause of this disease. It transfers from one partner to another during sexual activities. This virus is highly responsible for abnormal changes in the cervix cells. So, when you have a pap test, it would screen for the changes in those cells. But you must prepare for this test before undergoing actually. The reason is that it would help you to attain the best results in the form of test reports. You need some preparations before test day, so you must not have sex before a night from a pap smear.
Moreover, you must not use vaginal washing products before the test. It could wash away the cervix cells, leading to false negative results. Additionally, you must not get this test during menstruation. Thus, the blood flow will evade the cells.
Pap smear needs regularly
A Pap smear is not a one-time cancer screening for the cervix. But it is a routine test that women must consider. Nearly 300000 American women get treatment for precancerous cervix cells annually. So, you can see the importance of pap smear testing yourself. If you are above 21, this test is needed every 3 years. After 30, you can undergo this screening once in 5 years with less risk of developing cancer. Pap tests can detect the abnormalities in cervix cells that can be treated with medications. It is usually referred to as the formation of precancerous cells that can be diagnosed. However, the development of cancerous cells could be slow. So, a pap test can detect those cells over time.
A Pap smear is a screening tool only
Most women believe a pap smear to be a diagnostic tool for cervical cancer. But it is not the truth since it is only a screening tool. You can get a pap smear per the doctor’s recommendation to detect abnormal cells in the cervix. Also, you should not confuse this test for the detection of uterus cancer. It only screens for the cervix, which is just the opening to the womb. It can check if there are abnormal cells lying on the cervix. These cells are collected and sent to the lab for testing. Based on the results, you would be prescribed the right treatment.
Abnormal pap test results are not always a threat
A negative pap smear result would mean that your cervix is healthy. But what if your pap test result is positive or abnormal? Well, all positive pap smears do not mean cervical cancer. But the risk of cancer mainly depends upon the severity of cell changes. Abnormal results can sometimes also be caused by inflammation and infection. So, you do not need to be stressed out with an abnormal test report.
To Sum up
Pap smear testing is a prominent way to detect cervical cancer. It has a simple procedure that checks for abnormalities of cervix cells. One can get this test by visiting an urgent care clinic. It is performed by a medical expert, usually a gynecologist. A Pap test plays an important role in ensuring women’s reproductive health. So, being a woman, you should consult with your physician to get this test done.
Comments