Many mothers do not understand the importance of Pap smears for women’s reproductive health. Pap smears can help mothers detect cervical cancer early.
The assumption that the Pap test procedure is painful and expensive makes mothers not want to take the test. Not to mention the ‘trivial’ assumption about cervical cancer that causes Mothers to often ignore this exam.
If you’re not sure about having a pap smear because you don’t know the procedure or are concerned about the cost, Bubun suggests doing a little research first by searching for as much information on the Internet as possible.
A Pap smear is usually done at the same time as a pelvic exam. In women over the age of 30, a Pap smear may be combined with a test for human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer.
To collect Mayo ClinicDoctors recommend starting PAP exams at age 21 and repeating them once every three years for women aged 21 to 65.
Women aged 30 and older may consider a Pap smear every five years if this procedure is combined with an HPV test. However, if you have certain risk factors, your doctor may recommend more frequent pap smears regardless of age.
What are the risk factors involved?
- You have been diagnosed with cervical cancer or your previous Pap smear results show precancerous cells.
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth.
- Infected with HIV.
- A weakened immune system due to organ transplantation, chemotherapy, or chronic corticosteroid use.
The benefits of having a Pap smear
1. Make mom calmer
Pap smear examination with normal and good results will give you peace of mind. At least mom will feel that the reproductive system is functioning properly and she is not at high risk of getting cancer.
2. Early diagnosis of cancer cells
If you have cancer cells in your cervix, routine Pap smears can detect them in the early stages. If you never do, waiting until you show symptoms of cancer will make treatment more complicated or less effective.
3. Prevent cervical cancer
A Pap smear can not only show the presence of cancer cells in the cervix, but it can also show precancerous cells that have changed over time and become cancerous. Treatments for pre-cancerous cells are also possible and are designed to stop the changes that lead to cancer.
4. Eliminate the possibility of cancer spreading
By identifying cancer early, a Pap smear helps eliminate the possibility that precancerous or cancerous cells could spread to other parts of the body.
Early identification goes a long way in increasing the chances of cure and overall survival of the cancer.
Pap smear examination procedure
Reported by WebMD, it takes 10 to 20 minutes for the entire test but only a few minutes for the pap smear. The test is performed in a hospital or health clinic.
You may be asked to strip completely or only from the waist down during the pap smear procedure. You will lie on your back on the test table with your knees bent.
Your heel rests on supports called stirrups. Your doctor will then gently insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina.
The speculum helps separate the vaginal walls, so it’s easier for the doctor to see the cervix. Inserting a speculum can cause a feeling of pressure in the pelvic area, this is what is often feared to be painful even though it isn’t, mum.
Then your doctor will take a sample of your cervical cells using a soft brush and a flat scraping tool called a spatula. The Pap smear procedure is painless, it’s just that you may feel some discomfort from the pressure from the speculum device.
Before the exam schedule, there are some preparations you need to do. Please check the next page, ok?
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