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Skin Infections: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
Skin infections can be caused by a variety of pathogens, each producing different types of infections, according...
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A Pap smear is a medical test that is routinely used to check women for cervical cancer. Knowing more about Pap screenings and where to get them can help you avoid or diagnose cervical cancer early on, allowing you to obtain treatment.
A Pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer in women. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), this test entails taking a sample of cervix cells and examining them for cancer indications. Cervical cancer can be prevented or treated by working with your doctor if you have precancerous cells on your cervix. According to the National Library of Medicine, a Pap smear is also known as a Papanicolaou test or Pap smear test.
A Pap smear is a test that examines the cervix for the presence of cervical cancer and precancerous cells. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of precancers in the cervix, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (HPV).
According to the DHHS, Pap exams are generally advised for women between the ages of 21 and 65. Women should have a Pap smear every three to five years, depending on their age, or as often as their doctors recommend.
A Pap test is normally done at your doctor's office during a pelvic exam or a well-woman exam. Your doctor will normally ask you to remove your clothing from the waist down, lie down on an exam table, and put your feet in stirrups, according to the University of Utah. Your doctor will next take a sample of cells from your cervix with a long cotton swab. According to the University of Utah, your cell sample will be submitted to a lab to be tested for evidence of precancers and cervical cancer.
Most women between the ages of 21 and 65 should get a Pap smear, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. It recommends that even if a woman is not sexually active, has received the HPV vaccine, or has previously gone through menopause, she should still undergo regular Pap screenings.
The DHHS recommends getting a Pap smear test every three years if you're between the ages of 21 and 29. If you're between the ages of 30 and 65, the DHHS recommends getting a Pap smear every three years or a Pap and HPV co-test every five years.
If you're over 65 and have never been tested, or if you haven't been checked since you turned 60, the DHHS suggests getting a Pap test.
Tampons, sex, douching, and vaginal creams or birth control foams should all be avoided two to three days before your Pap smear, according to the National Library of Medicine. It's also a good idea to get your Pap smear on a day when you aren't due to have your period. According to the National Library of Medicine, no other preparation is required for a Pap smear aside from these processes.
To begin, your doctor will ask you to strip down to your underwear and lie down on an exam table. Then, according to the University of Utah, your doctor will use a speculum to open the walls of your vaginal canal, giving your doctor a clear view of your cervix.
To take a sample of cells, your doctor will introduce a long swab into your vagina and gently swipe it against your cervix. According to the University of Utah, your cell sample will be transported to a lab where it will be examined and tested for the existence of precancerous cells and cervical cancer.
According to the National Library of Medicine, most women experience little to no discomfort during a Pap smear, while some women may experience pressure and mild discomfort akin to menstruation cramps. It goes on to say that some women may experience spotting or bleeding as a result of the procedure, which is totally normal.
The results of a Pap smear can be normal or abnormal. The NLMl makes a point. When your results are ready, your doctor will contact you to discuss them.
According to the National Library of Medicine, a normal Pap test means that the cells in your cervix were confirmed to be normal and that no symptoms of precancers or cervical cancer were discovered. In most cases, your doctor would advise you to return in three to five years for another routine visit.
According to the National Library of Medicine, an abnormal Pap test indicates that abnormalities were found in your cervical cell sample. This does not necessarily imply that you are suffering from cervical cancer. According to the National Library of Medicine, your doctor may recommend additional tests or therapies to prevent your cell abnormalities from progressing to cancer.
According to the National Library of Medicine, the Pap test is not 100 percent accurate, and cervical cancer can be overlooked in a tiny percentage of instances. It's also a good idea to avoid taking this test if you're on your period, as blood might skew the findings.
A Pap smear test does not detect HPV, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. It does, however, look for atypical cervical cells, which could be caused by HPV. If you're 30 or older, the DHHS recommends getting a routine HPV test.
A Pap smear is a cervical cancer screening test that is suggested for women aged 21 to 65. According to the DHHS, it entails examining the cells in your cervix for evidence of precancerous cells and abnormalities.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, a Pap smear can help you avoid cervical cancer by detecting it in its early stages, when it can be effectively treated.
If you're a woman between the ages of 21 and 65, the DHHS recommends getting a Pap smear.
If you're between the ages of 21 and 29, you should get a Pap smear test every three years. The DHHS recommends having a Pap test every three years if you are between the ages of 30 and 65, or once every five years if you combine your Pap test with an HPV test.
A Pap smear can be obtained from your doctor as part of a well-woman exam or from an urgent care center that provides this service. To discover a nearby provider, use Solv to find reliable, top-rated providers in your Oklahoma that offer a Pap smear test.
According to the DHHS, Pap smear results normally arrive in one to three weeks. If you haven't heard from your doctor in three weeks, you should contact his or her office.
According to the National Library of Medicine, a Pap smear test takes very little preparation. The National Library of Medicine recommends that you avoid using tampons, douche products, vaginal lotions, or birth control foams two to three days before your Pap test. It also suggests that you avoid having sex during this time and reschedule your appointment if you are on your period.
A Pap smear does not test for HPV, according to the National Library of Medicine. You can, however, get your Pap smear and an HPV test done at the same time every five years. Based on your age and screening history, talk to your doctor about when you should get an HPV test.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, you should have a Pap smear every three years after turning 21 or every five years after turning 30 if you want to combine your Pap screening with an HPV test.
Updated on Aug 25, 2024
Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
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