What Is A Pap Smear Test And Why It Is Done?
A Pap Smear, commonly called a Pap test, is a screening procedure used to detect abnormal cell growth in the cervix and diagnose cervical cancer in females.
WHO reports that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. On the other hand, as stated by the CDC, almost 11000+ cases are diagnosed annually in the US.
But even if you don’t have cervical cancer, finding cell changes early can prevent you from developing it. Experts suggest to get a pap smear every three years after 21 years of age.
Family Urgent Care provides a convenient and safe environment to get a pap smear done. You can either book your appointment or directly walk into our clinic and consult our experienced healthcare providers right away.
Who Can Get A Pap Smear Test?
Healthcare experts suggest every woman to get a pap smear test as follows:
- Women aged 21 to 29 should get the test every 3 years
- Women aged 30 to 65 should get a pap smear and HPV test every 5 years
- Sexually active females should get routine pap smears as recommended by their doctor
- If you have a history of abnormal pap test results or HPV infection in the past.
- Women who are HIV positive or suffer from immuno-compromised conditions like organ transplants or chronic use of corticosteroids.
There is no need for cervical cancer screenings for females who are over 65 years and had no abnormal test results in the last 10 years.
How Can You Prepare Yourself For A Pap Smear Test?
There are a few things that might affect pap smear results so it’s better to avoid the following activities before your test:
- Avoid sexual intercourse for two days before your exam
- Do not use any vaginal creams, medicines or birth control foams or jellies for at least two days.
- Do not use any sprays or powders near the vagina
Also, you can schedule your appointment five days after your period ends to get accurate results.
When Can You Expect Pap Smear Test Results?
Once you get your pap smear done at Family Urgent Care, you can expect your results in one to three weeks. You can contact our clinic directly via phone to confirm whether your results are ready or not.
How Are Pap Smear Tests Performed?
A pap smear test can be performed during a pelvic exam, in which the patient lies on the back with knees bent and heels on the footrest.
The doctor inserts a speculum inside the vagina and takes a few cells from the cervix by using a small soft brush.
The sample is further sent to the lab for testing or identifying the presence of abnormal cells. Some patients might bleed during the procedure. It could also be uncomfortable but quick.
Your pap smear test results could be negative or positive. A negative report generally means you do not have any abnormal cells and are cancer-free for the next 3 years. However, in the case of positive reports, it is not necessary that cancer is present but it can indicate the presence of abnormal pre-cancerous cells.
