14 Essential FAQs About Pap Smear!

Pap smear is also called as Pap test, which is used to test for cervical cancer in women.

This procedure involves collecting cells from your cervix – the lower and narrow end of your uterus.

Detecting cervical cancer in early stages can increase the chances of recovery.

Also, Pap smear helps to detect the changes in your cervical cells that indicate cancer in the future. Detecting these cells early with a Pap smear is your first step in halting the possible development of cervical cancer.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Pap smear:

1. What a Pap smear really means?

This is a diagnostic test used to identify the changes in the cells of your cervix. Pap smear can help to identify cervical cancer, infections of the cervix or abnormal cervical cells.

2. What are the benefits of Pap smear?

This test helps to identify the early signs of cervical cancer. If the signs are identified early, the chances of curing are high. Also, the test identifies abnormal cervical cells and infection that can turn into cancer cells. So, getting regular Pap smear can help to prevent the chances of developing cervical cancer.

3. Who needs Pap smear?

It is essential that all women have pelvic exams along with Pap smear as a part of regular health checkup. Women with 21 years or more and women under 21 years and have been sexually active for more than three years should undergo Pap smear.

Generally, there is no age limit for the test. Women during their menopause stage can also undergo Pap smear.

4. When should I get Pap smear?

The time and frequency of the test depend on your age and your health conditions. It is better to talk to your doctor.

• People younger than 30 years should undergo Pap smear every year.


• People of age 30 or older should talk their doctor about spacing out Pap smear to every 2 or 3 years.


• People between the ages of 65 to 70 years and already had Pap test for 3 times and no abnormal Pap test during the past ten years should talk to their doctor about further tests.
  

5. Do I still need Pap smear even after having hysterectomy?

This depends on the type of hysterectomy procedure that you have undergone. Consult your doctor whether you need the test or not. Women who have undergone total hysterectomy, removal of both the uterus and cervix, may not need to undergo regular a Pap smear. If only uterus is removed, then Pap test is essential.

6. How to prepare for the Pap smear test?

For two days before undergoing the test, you should avoid:

• Usage of tampons


• Douching


• Usage of vaginal deodorant sprays or powders


• Usage of suppositories, vaginal creams, and other medications


• Avoid intercourse
  

7. Can I undergo Pap smear when I have periods?

No, you should not have Pap test during your menstrual period. Best period to undergo the test is 10-20 days after the first day of your last menstrual period.

8. What does the procedure involves?

Pap test can be done during your pelvic exam. It is simple and a quick procedure. When you lie on the table, your doctor introduces an instrument called speculum into the vagina, to see your cervix.

Then with the help of special stick, the doctor accumulates the cells from the cervix. These cells are then placed on a glass slide and tested in the laboratory. It is a painless procedure, but some women feel it slightly uncomfortable.

9. When will Pap test results come?

The results of Pap test come in 2-3 weeks. Usually, the test results are normal. If there is something wrong from the test, your doctor asks you to again schedule for the test. Various reasons can result in abnormal Pap test, but it doesn’t mean that you have cancer.

10. What means abnormal Pap test?

Abnormal Pap test results mean that there might be a problem with the cervix. Sometimes, these abnormal cells can lead to cancer. But, most of the times, these cells go away on their own. If these unhealthy cells are treated soon, then the cancer can be prevented completely.

11. What happens if my test result was abnormal?

If it is an abnormal Pap test or results in small changes of your cervical cells, then your doctor will ask you to repeat the procedure.

If the results are more serious, then your doctor suggests further more powerful tests such as: biopsy, colposcopy or endocervical curettage.

12. What means false positive results?

There is no guarantee that results are always 100% correct, sometimes they might be false positive or false negative. False positive test result means you have abnormal cells, but in reality the cells are normal. So, if your test results in false positive, it indicates that there is no problem.

False negative test result means your cells are normal, but in reality there are some abnormal cells. So, if the test results in false negative, you need to undergo regular Pap test until the problem is identified.

13. Who have greater chances of getting cervical cancer?

The best way to be free from cervical cancer is avoiding contact with human papilloma virus (HPV) as it is the definite cause of cervical cancer. Here are the causes, which lead to women whose chances of getting cervical cancer are more:

• Women with more than one sex partners


• Women who have or have had a STD


• Women whose sex partner have other sex partners


• Women who started sex before the age of 18
  

14. Will insurance cover my Pap test?

Yes, insurance covers the cost of Pap smear. The cost varies from one doctor to another and it ranges from $50 to $200. Without health insurance, it may seem difficult to get the test because of the cost.