7 Important Guidelines During a Pap Smear

Anyone with a cervix aged 21 to 65 must get a pap smear. Most women may not know this, but going for regular gynecological pap smears every three years can be highly beneficial. Not only does it detect early cervical cancer, but it also helps you understand your cervical region and your reproductive system. 

What’s A Pap Smear?

Generally, a gynecologist performs this type of cervical screening to find if a patient has cancer-causing cells. pap smear singapore is an effective saving tool that helps to catch these at an early stage.

A patient will lie down facing up and legs apart with bent knees. Then the doctor uses a speculum that he inserts into the patient’s vagina to examine the cervix as the device holds the vaginal walls. He will then take a sample of cervical cells using a spatula or brush to test them. 

So, your doctor gets the results after one to three weeks. And if these results seem abnormal or unclear, that may be a sign of an infection, including cancer or other health problems.

Results After A Pap Test

Normal Results

When your test discovers normal cervical cells, that indicates a negative result. That means you won’t need any further testing until your next Pap smear, which should be after three years. 

Unclear or Abnormal Results

Sometimes the result may not be clear. When these come out ambiguous, your doctor will request the patient to have more tests to monitor any changes. The test can be done soon or wait for six months, depending on how the cell changes. 

What Abnormal Results Mean

We can classify the cell changes as the following:

Low-grade lesion: There is minimal risk of a low-grade lesion progressing soon to cancer.

High-grade lesion: There is a high possibility of the high-grade lesion becoming cancerous imminently. 

Atypical glandular cells: These abnormal cells hide in the endocervix and need further testing.

Squamous cell cancer (adenocarcinoma): So, there can be a likelihood of cancer depending on the atypical cell. And that will require further testing.

A positive result may indicate a need for more investigation, and there have been some cell changes caused by HPV.

Proper Guidelines Of Who Needs A Pap Smear

Now that you know the essence of having a pap smear, there are a few guidelines that you need to follow as you prepare to get started. However, these only apply to people who’ve not been diagnosed with pre-cancer or cervical cancer.  

1. The USPSTF, which stands for; the United States Preventive Services Task Force), suggests that: Any woman aged 21–29 years should get gynaecological pap smears every three years.                                                             
2. Young women below 21 years don’t need a pap test because cervical cancer is sporadic in this age group. But unless a woman is sexually active with more than one partner. Only 1 in 1000 cases or less of cervical cancer occur in this age group. Generally, most women get infected with HPV after having vaginal intercourse.                                                                                                                                                                                      And the infections usually go away within 1 to 2 years without causing any changes in the cervical cells. If those changes occur, the cells tend to go back to normal. According to some studies, cervical cancer screening may result in unnecessary treatment for those below 21 years old.
3. Women from the age of 30–65 years should get a Pap test after three years. They can also have an HPV test every five years or incorporate a Pap with an HPV every five years.                                                                       
4. Women with no history of high-grade precancerous lesions or who have had a hysterectomy don’t need cervical cancer screening.                                                                                                                                      
5. As per USPSTF, women above 65 years of age who’ve gone through adequate screening for cervical cancer and are at no risk shouldn’t get the pap test.                                                                                                          
6. It’s best to schedule your pap test if you’re in your menstrual period. Five days after your periods, it’s okay to go for it.                                                                                                                                                                   
7. Don’t use products such as spermicidal jellies, forms, or creams two days before the test. These can wash away abnormal cells, and we don’t want that to happen. 

Other Instructions Include: 

• If you use tampons, avoid them for at least 24 hours before the gynaecological pap smears.
• Do not have sex before going for your pap test. 
• Avoid vaginal medicine if you do take any.
• Douching is a big no before your procedure.

Who Should Not Follow These Standard Guidelines?

• Women with a cervical cancer history
• Female infected with HIV.
• Women with a weakened immune system resulting from chemotherapy, organ transplant, or others. Female exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth.
• Sexually active people with multiple partners 
• Patients who’ve previously had abnormal test results.

The above category of people may require more frequent screening, and that’s why these guidelines don’t work for them. 

Who Doesn’t Need A Pap Smear?

Women who have had a total hysterectomy— surgical removal of the uterus $cervix. You might not need to have any more pap tests if your procedure was for a noncancerous condition. But if it was for the cervix’s precancerous or cancerous state, you will need to continue with the routine gynecological pap smears.

Women above 65 may stop the routine pap testing if their cervical cancer test comes negative. But a doctor has to agree to this.  

Benefits Of Having A Pap Smear

• A Pap test helps to find pre-cancer. These are the cell changes that may be cervical cancer if not treated accordingly. 

• Early pre-cancer detection allows doctors to remove them before developing into cervical cancer. 

• Other than detecting cancerous cells, a pap test can also find inflammation or other infection when performed along with a pelvic exam. 

Does Pap Smear Screening Hurt?

Though it shouldn’t hurt, you may feel some new sensation in your body, which can be a little uncomfortable. Some say it’s like a slight pinch, but everyone’s experience might differ.

Conclusion

If you’re a woman of 21 years of age and above and haven’t had a pap test, please go for gynecological pap smears. You’ve seen the benefits of doing so, as this may detect and treat cancerous cells at an early stage. It’s prudent to consider all the guidelines above, and you can also consult your gynecologist if you’re unsure of anything.