Pap tests are necessary to detect risk factor for cervical cancer. Done timely, this test can be a life saver.
Experts recommend that women who are sexually active or who have reached 18 years of age get annual Pap tests. Some gynaecologists, on the other hand, recommend that women have three consecutive annual tests; if results are normal, they should schedule further tests in consultation with their doctor (generally every one to three years). If you are at high risk for cervical cancer, your doctor may advise more frequent testing.
Multiple sexual partners
A partner who’s had multiple partners
Sexual activity that began in teens
History of sexually transmitted disease *
Use of oral contraceptives
Smoking
The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection with HPV (human papillomavirus). This disease can be passed from one person to another during sex. Having unprotected sex, especially at a young age, makes HPV infection more likely. Also, women who have many sexual partners (or who have sex with men who have had many partners) have a greater chance of getting HPV. HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS) is also a risk factor for cancer of the cervix. Being HIV positive makes a woman’s immune system less able to fight both the virus and early cancers.
VITAL STEP: QUIT SMOKING IF YOU DO
The Pap test is a very effective screening test for cervical cancer and often detects the disease in its early stages, before symptoms appear and while the disease can still be cured. Since the test’s development, deaths from cervical cancer have been cut by more than half. While Pap tests may reveal the existence of yeast infections, a sexually transmitted disease, or rarely, ovarian cancer, they are not designed to do so.
Nearly 60 percent of all cervical cancers are found in women over age 55.
The procedure takes five to ten minutes and can be done during a pelvic exam. While the speculum is inserted, the examiner gently scrapes cells from your cervix, usually with a cotton swab. Two samples are usually taken. The cells are smeared on a slide and examined under a microscope for any mutations that may signal cancer.
For the most accuracy, get the test done 12 to 14 days after the first day of your period. If you douche within 24 hours before the test, or are menstruating, the results may be distorted. After the test, a small amount of bleeding may occur.
Results of a Pap test are fairly reliable. The best safeguard against lab error is with annual testing. If your results are abnormal, you may require further testing for a precise diagnosis.
