本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛What is a Pap smear?
A Pap smear is a test done during a pelvic exam to check for abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Abnormal cells can develop into cancer if not detected and treated. There are no signs or symptoms related to early cervical cancer so a pelvic exam of the female sex organs and a Pap smear are needed. Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if abnormal cells are detected and treated early. Pap smears have reduced deaths from cancer of the cervix by 70% over the past 50 years.
Other terms for Pap smear are Papanicolaou smear, Pap test, and cervical smear.
What does it test for?
The Pap smear tests for abnormal changes in the cervical cells. A precancerous change in the cells, called cervical dysplasia, can be detected by a Pap smear. The abnormal cells can develop into cancer if the dysplasia is not discovered and treated.
The Pap smear may also detect viral infections of the cervix, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes. It may detect vaginal infections such as yeast infections or trichomonas. Sometimes the Pap smear can give information about your hormones, especially progesterone and estrogen.
You should have your first Pap smear when you become sexually active or by the age of 21, whichever happens first. You should then have a Pap smear every year until at least the age of 30. If you have had a normal result for 3 years in a row after the age of 30, your provider may recommend having the test every 2 to 3 years if you do not have a history of cervical cancer in their family, history of infections, or history of multiple sex partners. Your health care provider will recommend how often you should be tested based on your risk factors for cervical cancer. You are at an increased risk for cervical cancer if:
You have had an abnormal Pap smear.
You began to have sexual intercourse in your teens or earlier.
You or your sexual partner have a history of many sexual partners.
You or your sexual partner has had genital wart virus infection (human papillomavirus, or HPV, infection).
You have had a herpes infection of the cervix.
You have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
You have had vulvar or vaginal cancer.
Your sexual partner's previous partner had cervical cancer or abnormal cervical cells.
Your sexual partner has or had cancer of the penis.
You smoke.
Your mother took the hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES) when she was pregnant with you.
Your immune system is weakened; for example, because you have had a transplant, you are taking immunosuppressive drugs, or you have AIDS.
Your health care provider may not recommend continuing Pap smears beyond age 70 if previous Pap smears have been consistently normal. However, an annual physical exam continues to be important for other health reasons, including early detection of possible breast and other cancers.
How do I prepare for a Pap smear?
Do not schedule your Pap smear during your menstrual period. Two weeks after the first day of your last period is the best time to have the test.
Do not douche or use vaginal creams during the 3 days before the test.
Do not have intercourse within 24 hours before the Pap smear because it can cause inaccurate test results.
What happens during the procedure?
A Pap smear takes only a few seconds and is performed as part of a routine pelvic exam. You lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet apart. Your health care provider inserts a speculum into the vagina. The speculum is a tool that holds open the walls of the vagina so your provider can see the cervix. Your provider uses a special swab, brush, or wooden stick to wipe off some cells from the cervix. The cells are sent to a lab for testing.
What happens after the procedure?
If the cells look normal, no treatment is necessary.
The Pap test may show that you have an infection. Your health care provider may treat you for the infection and suggest that you have another Pap test in several months.
If the cells look abnormal, more tests may be necessary. Discuss with your provider when you should return for any tests or a follow-up exam.
A Pap test is not 100% accurate. You may want to talk to your health care provider about the results. There are newer methods used now for Pap testing, including computer-assisted testing, which have been approved by the Health Canada and are more accurate. However, these newer methods cost more and may not be covered by insurance.
Ask your health care provider when you should come back for another Pap smear or pelvic exam.
What are the benefits of this procedure?
Pap smears can detect precancerous and cancerous conditions. If these conditions are discovered, there is a good chance that simple treatment will prevent the development or spread of cancer. Pap smears are also useful for detecting some types of cervical or vaginal infections and hormonal problems.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
A Pap smear is a test done during a pelvic exam to check for abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Abnormal cells can develop into cancer if not detected and treated. There are no signs or symptoms related to early cervical cancer so a pelvic exam of the female sex organs and a Pap smear are needed. Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if abnormal cells are detected and treated early. Pap smears have reduced deaths from cancer of the cervix by 70% over the past 50 years.
Other terms for Pap smear are Papanicolaou smear, Pap test, and cervical smear.
What does it test for?
The Pap smear tests for abnormal changes in the cervical cells. A precancerous change in the cells, called cervical dysplasia, can be detected by a Pap smear. The abnormal cells can develop into cancer if the dysplasia is not discovered and treated.
The Pap smear may also detect viral infections of the cervix, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes. It may detect vaginal infections such as yeast infections or trichomonas. Sometimes the Pap smear can give information about your hormones, especially progesterone and estrogen.
You should have your first Pap smear when you become sexually active or by the age of 21, whichever happens first. You should then have a Pap smear every year until at least the age of 30. If you have had a normal result for 3 years in a row after the age of 30, your provider may recommend having the test every 2 to 3 years if you do not have a history of cervical cancer in their family, history of infections, or history of multiple sex partners. Your health care provider will recommend how often you should be tested based on your risk factors for cervical cancer. You are at an increased risk for cervical cancer if:
You have had an abnormal Pap smear.
You began to have sexual intercourse in your teens or earlier.
You or your sexual partner have a history of many sexual partners.
You or your sexual partner has had genital wart virus infection (human papillomavirus, or HPV, infection).
You have had a herpes infection of the cervix.
You have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
You have had vulvar or vaginal cancer.
Your sexual partner's previous partner had cervical cancer or abnormal cervical cells.
Your sexual partner has or had cancer of the penis.
You smoke.
Your mother took the hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES) when she was pregnant with you.
Your immune system is weakened; for example, because you have had a transplant, you are taking immunosuppressive drugs, or you have AIDS.
Your health care provider may not recommend continuing Pap smears beyond age 70 if previous Pap smears have been consistently normal. However, an annual physical exam continues to be important for other health reasons, including early detection of possible breast and other cancers.
How do I prepare for a Pap smear?
Do not schedule your Pap smear during your menstrual period. Two weeks after the first day of your last period is the best time to have the test.
Do not douche or use vaginal creams during the 3 days before the test.
Do not have intercourse within 24 hours before the Pap smear because it can cause inaccurate test results.
What happens during the procedure?
A Pap smear takes only a few seconds and is performed as part of a routine pelvic exam. You lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet apart. Your health care provider inserts a speculum into the vagina. The speculum is a tool that holds open the walls of the vagina so your provider can see the cervix. Your provider uses a special swab, brush, or wooden stick to wipe off some cells from the cervix. The cells are sent to a lab for testing.
What happens after the procedure?
If the cells look normal, no treatment is necessary.
The Pap test may show that you have an infection. Your health care provider may treat you for the infection and suggest that you have another Pap test in several months.
If the cells look abnormal, more tests may be necessary. Discuss with your provider when you should return for any tests or a follow-up exam.
A Pap test is not 100% accurate. You may want to talk to your health care provider about the results. There are newer methods used now for Pap testing, including computer-assisted testing, which have been approved by the Health Canada and are more accurate. However, these newer methods cost more and may not be covered by insurance.
Ask your health care provider when you should come back for another Pap smear or pelvic exam.
What are the benefits of this procedure?
Pap smears can detect precancerous and cancerous conditions. If these conditions are discovered, there is a good chance that simple treatment will prevent the development or spread of cancer. Pap smears are also useful for detecting some types of cervical or vaginal infections and hormonal problems.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net