Pap Smears

Understanding pap smears

A pap smear is a basic screening test for the detection of cervical cancer. What most women need to understand is that a pap smear needs to be a part of their regular health tests and one that shouldn’t be avoided under any circumstances. Pap smear is also called a pap test; it is a very simple procedure that requires the collection of cells from the cervical region, which is the narrow opening at the base of the uterus. Pap smear is named after its developer George Papanicolaou; it not only detects cervical cancer but also changes in the cells in the cervical region that could lead to cancer.

The popularity of pap smears has grown in the last 50 years and has resulted in a drop of fatalities arising out of cervical cancer. The American Cancer society claims that 3700 women die each year because of cervical cancer, but also claims that this figure drop if more women realized the importance of pap smears. Pap smears are literally lifesavers, because cervical cancer detected in its early stages has a cure rate of 90 percent.

Frequency of Pap Smear

Most people ask when do they need to take a pap smear, what is the age to start pap smears. The American Cancer Society suggests getting your first Pap smear test after three years of being sexually active or by the age of 21.

• Those in the age group of 21 to 29 years should get a pap smear once a year or once every two years in the case of liquid-based Pap smear test.
• Those who are above 30 years but below 69 should get a pap smear done every 15 months or twice every 3 years. This is only if your last three pap smears have had normal results.
• Those above 70 years need not have pap smears if they have had three normal Pap smears consecutively.

Reasons to get a Pap smear

Some people are at risk of cervical cancer and need to get a pap smear done on a regular basis. These risk factors are:

• If you have been sexually active since your teenage years and with more than one partner.
• Those who have had multiple sex partners.
• Those who have had partners who became sexually active at a very early age or one who has had many partners.
• A person who has a history or is prone to sexually transmitted diseases.
• A person whose family has a history of cervical cancer.
• If the pap smear has shown precancerous cells.
• Those who have been infected with human papillomavirus.
• Those who smoke or use tobacco regularly.
• Those babies who have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol.
• Those who have HIV.

Preparing for a Pap smear

There are some steps to be taken to prepare you for a pap smear.

• Before the pap smear, at least 2 days before, avoid intercourse, douching or using any medication or spermicidal creams, gels or jellies.
• Do not schedule a pap smear close to your menstrual period.