When is the best time to do a pap smear test?

We all know more or less about pap smear test... but we probably don't know when is the best time to do pap smear test... So, in this article from GCORP LLC, we are going to give you some tips on when is the best time to do pap smear test.. give it.

Pap smear test, which is also called pap smear test, smear test or cervical test, is a test to measure abnormal cells in your cervix. Of course, pap smear can also detect infection and inflammation of the vagina. But this test is mainly used to screen for cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related death in women in the United States for decades. Since the Pap smear test became available in the 1950s, cervical cancer rates have decreased by 60%.

When cervical cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, it is much more likely to be treated and cured.... Specialists have set a schedule for the time and number of Pap smear tests.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has made the following recommendations for women who have no known risk factors:

Pap smear test in people who have undergone hysterectomy

If you need to continue the pap smear test, ask your doctor about its necessity.. Usually, tests can be stopped if your uterus was removed during a hysterectomy and you have no history of cervical cancer.

Preparation steps for pap smear test

To increase the accuracy of the Pap smear test, there are various things that you should avoid doing 48 hours before the test. These things include:

• Sexual relationship
• Shower
• Using a tampon
• Using lubricants or vaginal drugs
• Using vaginal sprays or powders
• Also note that you should not do a Pap test during your period.

Pap smear and pregnancy

Usually, the question of many people is whether a Pap smear test is necessary during pregnancy or not.

In response, it should be said that doing a Pap smear test is not dangerous for pregnant people.... In fact, some researches have shown that there is no connection between a positive HPV test and a Pap smear test and female complications.

Therefore, a Pap smear test is recommended during pregnancy..

Hormonal changes associated with pregnancy may affect the test and produce abnormal results... HPV testing can also be useful as a reliable alternative to the Pap smear test.

If you are planning to have a Pap smear test and you are pregnant, you can do it between 1 and 24 weeks of pregnancy... but you should not do a Pap smear test after the sixth month and up to 12 weeks after birth.... In the last trimester of pregnancy, your Pap smear test may be uncomfortable.... After birth, you may get unreliable results due to low cells or inflammation that occurs after birth.

What happens during a Pap smear test?

When you have a Pap smear test, you will be asked to lie on the examination table with your knees up.... You will place your feet in stirrups on either side of the table.... You should place your hips and genitals near the end of the table.

Your doctor will insert a metal or plastic speculum into your vagina to keep the labia open. Then he uses a cotton swab to remove some cells and mucus from the cervix.

Most women will not feel pain during the test, but you may feel some burning or pressure.

Your doctor will send your samples to a lab to be examined under a microscope.. Your doctor may also order a human papillomavirus (HPV) test..

Pap smear test results

Pap smear is considered a screening test that alerts the need for further investigation.... It is a reliable test.... A 2018 study found that routine Pap smear screening detects 92% of cervical cancer cases.... However, according to research, there are cases of false negative and false positive results.

Most Pap smear results are normal....this means you should follow the recommended schedule for subsequent tests....you may hear these results as a negative test....this means you are negative for an abnormal test.

1) Adverse results

Sometimes, Pap test results are negative....this result is not necessarily alarming....this result can mean many things, including:

• Cervical cells have not been collected enough to perform an accurate test.
• Cells cannot be evaluated because of the presence of blood or mucus.
• There is an error running the test.

If your results are negative, your doctor may want to repeat the test right away or ask you to come back earlier than the rescheduled test.

2) Abnormal results

An abnormal pap smear doesn't necessarily mean you have cervical cancer... it just means some cells are different than others.... Abnormal results are usually divided into two categories:

• Low-grade changes in the cells of your cervix often mean HPV.
• Early changes can indicate that you have had HPV infection for a longer period of time. They can also be precancerous or cancerous.

3) Cervical cancer

When changes occur in the structure of cells in your cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina, they are considered precancerous. These precancerous cells can usually be removed in the doctor's office using liquid nitrogen, an electric current, or a laser beam.

In a small percentage of women, these precancers grow rapidly or in large numbers and form cancerous tumors. If left untreated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by different types of human papillomavirus.. Human papillomavirus is transmitted through vaginal, oral or anal sex... Human papillomavirus infection is very common.

It has been estimated that if you have at least one sexual partner, the probability of contracting the human papillomavirus at some point in your life is more than 84% for women and 91% for men....If you have only one sexual partner, you may be infected with the virus..You may also have the infection for years without knowing it.

Although there is no cure for infection with the types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, these infections usually go away within a year or two.

Cervical cancer symptoms

Many women do not have symptoms of cervical cancer, especially pain, until cervical cancer is in advanced stages. Common symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding when you are not on your period
• Heavy menstruation
• Abnormal vaginal discharge, sometimes with a bad smell
• Painful sex
• hip or back pain
• Pain when urinating

There are certain factors that put you at risk of developing cervical cancer. These factors include:

• Smoking
• HIV
• compromising the immune system
• Having family members with cervical cancer
• Your mother used the synthetic estrogen diethylacetylbestrol (DES) during your pregnancy.
• Having multiple sexual partners
• Sexual activity at a young age

Important tests for women

In addition to the Pap smear test, there are other tests that are important for women.

Depending on your medical history, your doctor may recommend additional tests or a different timeline... Always follow your doctor's advice, as they are most familiar with your health needs.

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Guide Gynecologists can provide you with helpful information about the best time to get a Pap smear... If you prefer, you can easily book your doctor's appointment online through the GCORP LLC website.

The GCORP LLC team is trying to provide you with the medical services you need simply and as soon as possible by providing online appointments.

Source: Health line