Pap smear: Everything you need to know about it
A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure
to test for cervical cancer in women. Thus, detecting cervical cancer early
with a Pap smear gives you a greater chance at a cure. Here, we brief you what
it is all about.
The Papinocolou smear, popularly known as the “Pap
smear” was invented by a Greek physiologist Georgios Papanicolaou, who first
sampled and smeared the vaginal fluid of his longtime girlfriend every day to
study abnormal changes in the cervical cytology. He, later on, conducted these
tests on his friends and was able to detect cervical cancer in one of them even
before any symptoms.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a very slowly progressing
cancer, and very rarely gives any early symptoms, such as white discharge,
foul-smelling vaginal discharge or bleeding after intercourse. It cannot be
identified by any imaging technique in the precancerous or early precancerous
stage. This has made cervical cancer one of the most common cancers among
Indian women, with very poor survival and high mortality rate, as most of these
cases are detected at the advanced stage.
How Pap smear can be helpful in detecting
cervical cancer
Pap smear is an economical and easy test which can
be done with a pelvic examination in the outpatient department or doctor’s
clinic. Hence, it is the method used to screen and detect cervical cancer in
women. In this test, the cervix is viewed through a speculum with the patient
in the dorsal position. Cells are scraped from the cervix and examined under a
microscope to check for disease or other problems.
Types of Pap smear
There are two types of Pap smear based on the
technology used – Conventional Pap smear and the Liquid-based cytology (Thin
prep /SurePath). The liquid-based cytology is the preferred technique of use.
Thus, it is more accurate and is better in predicting early precancerous
changes.
When is it recommended?
Pap smear is recommended every 3 years for every
sexually active woman from 21 to 65 years of age. Women aged 30 and older can
consider Pap testing every five years if the procedure is combined with testing
for HPV (Human Papilloma Virus DNA). Women are considered to be at ‘high risk’
of cervical cancer, if they have a weakened immune system due to HIV infection,
chemotherapy or long term steroid use, being on immunosuppressive medications
due to organ transplant, previously diagnosed with cervical cancer or Pap smear
showing precancerous cells, or have history of smoking or using birth control
pills for many years, or those with multiple sexual partners and should undergo
more frequent Pap smears.
How to prepare yourself for a Pap
smear?
To ensure that the Pap smear is most effective,
women must avoid intercourse, vaginal douching, use of any vaginal medications
or spermicidal jellies for 2-3 days before undergoing a Pap smear, as this
would wash away the abnormal cells. Women should also not schedule a Pap smear
around the time of monthly menstrual cycles. A Pap smear can be performed even
during pregnancy. Women may experience slight vaginal discomfort and minimal
bleeding during the Pap smear test but can get back to their routine activities
immediately after the test.
When should women doing a pap smear?
Women should consider stopping Pap smear tests
beyond the age of 65 years if their previous Pap smears showed negative
results, or if they’ve undergone a total hysterectomy, i.e. removal of the
entire uterus with the cervix, for a non-cancerous condition such as uterine
fibroids.
Take-home
message: If
the Pap smear test is abnormal, the doctor may recommend a procedure called
colposcopy using a special magnifying instrument (colposcope) to examine the
tissues of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. The doctor also may take a tissue
sample (biopsy) from any areas that appear abnormal. The tissue sample is then
sent to a laboratory for a definitive diagnosis. It is important to remember
that the Pap smear is just a screening test and can be incorrect. Hence, an
abnormal Pap smear report requires further testing to reach the correct
diagnosis. This is also the very reason why Pap smears need to be repeated
periodically, even if the previous tests were normal.
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