Pap smear

Overview: 

A pap smear is one of the screening tests for cervical cancer.  It is a vital tool in cervical cancer screening and prevents cervical cancer by early detection. Cells are collected from the cervix and sent to the lab for microbiological examination. Based on the results further treatment is planned. Pap smear test is also known as Pap test, cervical cytology, Papanicolaou test, Pap smear test, vaginal smear technique. 

Cervical Cancer:

The uterus is part of the body where a baby grows in pregnancy and the cervix is its lower part. cancer is caused due to contact with a virus called the human papillomavirus. Most of the time, the body can fight the infections caused by HPV. But sometimes, the viral infection leads to cancer. Cervical cancer may not cause any clinical symptoms. Occasionally it can cause symptoms of pelvic pain and bleeding from the vagina. 

Indications: 

Pap smear test is done as part of the cervical cancer screening tests. A screening test is a procedure that is done on the population to detect the presence of a disease or assess the likelihood of developing the disease. A pap smear also detects the precancer lesions that can turn into cancer in the future. It is also indicated to detect sexually transmitted infections. 

Pap smear and HPV tests are important cervical cancer screening tests. They are indicated in individuals with an increased risk of cervical cancer or in those whose smears show precancerous cells. It is also advisable to get the test done in individuals who are exposed to diethylstilbestrol before birth. This is also useful to screen in individuals with immunosuppressive conditions like organ transplants, chemotherapy, and steroid users and also who are chronic smokers.  

Recommendations for Pap smear: 

• Pap smear is recommended in individuals from 21 years of age independent of their sexual activity
• It is advisable to test every three years in women aged 21 to 65 years of age.  
• Women who are 30 years and older are recommended to undergo a pap smear along with an HPV test every five years. 
• It is not recommended for women who have undergone total hysterectomy where the uterus and cervix are removed. 
• It is also unnecessary for individuals 65 years and older and those who are younger than 21 years old. 

Before the procedure: 

Before undergoing a pap smear it is advisable not to use tampons, or any birth control foams, jellies, or creams. It is also better not to use any creams or medicines in the vagina at least 7 days before the test. Do not douche at least 2 or 3 days before the test. Do not have vaginal sex at least 2 days before the test. It is advisable to schedule an appointment for a pap smear test 5 days after the period stops. 

Pap test is done as part of the pelvic examination. Sometimes it may be done alone without any pelvic examination or pelvic examination may be done alone without any pap smear test. During a pelvic examination, the healthcare professional sees the organs for any clinically visible abnormalities and uses a gloved hand to feel the presence of any abnormalities. 

During the procedure: 

A pap smear is done as a part of a pelvic examination. The healthcare provider examines the uterus, ovaries, and genital area. During a pap smear test, an individual lies on the table. An instrument made of metal or plastic called the speculum is used to see the cervix. The vagina is widened to visualize the vagina. Then using a small brush or swab cells are collected from the exocervix and the endocervix. If the cervix was removed as part of hysterectomy treatment, then the cells are collected from the upper part of the vagina called the vaginal cuff. 

Based on the type of preservation of the cervical cells, pap smear tests can be of two types. If the cell samples are transferred to a container with a special liquid it is called a liquid-based pap smear test. If the samples are transferred to a glass slide directly then it is called a conventional pap smear test. 

After the procedure: 

After the procedure, an individual can resume the activities of daily living. The test results will be presented a few days after the test. One may feel mild discomfort after the test which subsided after some time. 

Interpretation of the results: 

Pap smear tests can be interpreted in three ways. They are normal pap smears or negative, unclear, or positive results. 

• Normal pap smear or negative result: This means no abnormal changes were found in the cells. An individual can wait for three more years before having the next test. Based on the age and medical history one can wait for 5 more years if the associated HPV test is also negative. 
• Unclear or Unsatisfactory pap smear: This means the lab sample does not have enough cells to see under the microscope, or the cells may have clumped together, or the cells may have been hidden by the mucous. One has to repeat the test after 2 to 4 months. 
• Abnormal pap smear or positive result: This means abnormal changes were found in the cervical cells. This may not imply having cervical cancer and hence a follow-up test is needed to confirm the test. Identifying and treating these cells can help to reduce the chance of having cervical cancer. Further tests will be done to confirm the abnormal results. 

Risks and complications: 

Pap smear test is a safe procedure but there are risks of false-positive and false-negative results. A false-negative result may be due to an inadequate or small number of cells. 

Conclusion: 

Pap smear test is a screening test done for cervical cancer. It is one of the safest and most easily done tests that identifies cervical cancer. Using this test can help an individual in the early detection of precancerous or cancerous lesions which increases the chance of early treatment leading to an increased survival rate. 

Popular Searches :

Hospitals: Cancer Hospital in Delhi | Best Heart Hospital in Delhi |  Hospital in Amritsar | Hospital in Ludhiana | Hospitals in Mohali | Hospital in Faridabad | Hospitals in Gurgaon | Best Hospital in Jaipur | Hospitals in Greater Noida | Hospitals in Noida | Best Kidney Hospital in Kolkata | Best Hospital in Kolkata | Hospitals in Rajajinagar Bangalore | Hospitals in Richmond Road Bangalore | Hospitals in Nagarbhavi Bangalore | Hospital in Kalyan West | Hospitals in Mulund | Best Hospital in India | | Cardiology Hospital in India | Best Cancer Hospital in India | Best Cardiology Hospital in India | Best Oncology Hospital In India | Best Cancer Hospital in Delhi | Best Liver Transplant Hospital in India

Doctors: Dr. Rana Patir | Dr. Rajesh Benny | Dr. Rahul Bhargava | Dr. Jayant Arora | Dr. Anoop Misra | Dr. Manu Tiwari | Dr. Praveer Agarwal | Dr. Arup Ratan Dutta | Dr. Meenakshi Ahuja | Dr. Anoop Jhurani | Dr. Shivaji Basu | Dr. Subhash Jangid | Dr. Atul Mathur | Dr. Gurinder Bedi | Dr. Monika Wadhawan | Dr. Debasis Datta | Dr. Shrinivas Narayan | Dr. Praveen Gupta | Dr. Nitin Jha | Dr. Raghu Nagaraj | Dr. Ashok Seth | Dr. Sandeep Vaishya | Dr. Atul Mishra | Dr. Z S Meharwal | Dr. Ajay Bhalla | Dr. Atul Kumar Mittal | Dr. Arvind Kumar Khurana | Dr. Narayan Hulse | Dr. Samir Parikh | Dr. Amit Javed | Dr. Narayan Banerjee | Dr. Bimlesh Dhar Pandey | Dr. Arghya Chattopadhyay | Dr. G.R. Vijay Kumar | Dr Ashok Gupta | Dr. Gourdas Choudhuri | Dr. Sushrut Singh | Dr. N.C. Krishnamani | Dr. Atampreet Singh | Dr. Vivek Jawali | Dr. Sanjeev Gulati | Dr. Amite Pankaj Aggarwal | Dr. Ajay Kaul | Dr. Sunita Varma | Dr. Manoj Kumar Goel | Dr. R Muralidharan | Dr. Sushmita Roychowdhury | Dr. T.S. MAHANT | Dr. UDIPTA RAY | Dr. Aparna Jaswal | Dr. Ravul Jindal | Dr. Savyasachi Saxena | Dr. Ajay Kumar Kriplani | Dr. Nitesh Rohatgi | Dr. Anupam Jindal 

Specialties: Heart Lung Transplant | Orthopedic | Cardiology Interventional | Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Onco Radiation | Neurosurgery |  Interventional Cardiology | Gastroenterologist in Jaipur | Neuro Physician | Gynecologist in Kolkata | Best Neurologist in India | Liver Transfer