Where these two cell types meet is where most cervical cancers and precancerous cells form. A Pap smear is a screening tool that can help doctors detect abnormal cells and cancer. It works by sampling cells from the cervix. Cervical cancer screening is vital for getting an early diagnosis of cervical cancer. With an early diagnosis, effective treatment is usually possible. This information can help a doctor determine whether a person has cervical cancer, or if they have an increased risk of developing this disease.
Routine screening does not always automatically include both tests at the same time, but a person can ask for an HPV test at the same time as a Pap smear. According to the American Cancer Society ACS , deaths from cervical cancer decreased dramatically after the introduction of the Pap smear.
A doctor usually carries out a Pap smear during a gynecological pelvic exam. They insert a tool called a speculum into the vagina so that they can examine the cervix. Then, they take a sample of cervical cells using a brush or spatula and send them for testing. If possible, it is best to avoid having a Pap smear during a menstrual period, especially if the flow is heavy, as this can affect the results of the test.
However, if a person only has the chance to have the test during menstruation, it is still better to attend than not. A person should not douche or put anything in the vagina to clean it before the test.
Doctors do not recommend douching at any time. The American Cancer Society recommend that people between the ages of 25 and 65 should have an HPV test every five years. After the age of 65 years, most women will not need a Pap smear or HPV test.
Those who have had abnormal test results in the past and those who are sexually active with more than one partner may need more frequent testing. After a total hysterectomy , which is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix, a Pap smear will no longer be necessary.
Anyone who has a hysterectomy because they had cancerous or precancerous cells should continue to have regular tests. Everyone has different needs, so it is important that people speak to their doctor about their risk factors for developing cervical cancer and their need for screening. The test results usually take 1—3 weeks to come back. Most test results are negative, but they can sometimes be positive.
A positive result does not confirm that a person has cancer, but it indicates that more investigation is necessary. Sometimes the result is ambiguous. The doctor may ask the person to have more tests to monitor for any changes.
These additional tests are likely to take place either soon after the first test or about 6 months later. Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance ASCUS : These are mildly abnormal cells that do not meet the criteria for precancerous cells. If HPV is present, the doctor may recommend additional testing. Squamous intraepithelial lesion : These lesions indicate possible precancerous cellular changes that are likely to need further testing.
During a colposcopy, the doctor uses a colposcope to magnify the view of the cervix, vulva, and vagina for examination. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines anticoagulants , aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. Do not use vaginal medicines, spermicidal foams, creams, or jellies, or douche for 2 to 3 days before the test or for the time set by your health care provider.
Avoid sex within 24 hours before the test. You will be asked to undress from the waist down and put on or cover up with a hospital gown. Your healthcare provider will insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina. This will spread the walls of the vagina apart to show the cervix. Your healthcare provider will use a small brush, swab or spatula to gently remove cells from the cervix and back of the vagina.
He or she will place the cells in a vial of liquid or smear the cells on a glass microscope slide. If you need an HPV test, your provider will take a sample of cells for this test as well. If you have symptoms of a vaginal infection, your provider may take a sample of vaginal for testing.
You may rest for a few minutes after the procedure before going home. Scraping the cervix may cause a small amount of bleeding. You may want to wear a sanitary pad for any spotting that may occur. Pap test results usually take a few days. Ask your healthcare provider how you will be hear back about the results. Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions after the procedure, based on your situation. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG , guidelines include: If you are at least age 21, you should start cervical cancer screening, even if you are not yet sexually active.
Why might I need a Pap test? Your healthcare provider may use a Pap test to diagnose the following conditions: Inflammation Infection Abnormal cells Precancerous cells Cancer Your healthcare provider may do a test for the human papilloma virus HPV at the same time as a Pap test. Cervical cancer takes several years to develop. And if one test doesn't detect the abnormal cells, the next test most likely will. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina vaginal canal make up the female reproductive system.
A Pap smear is performed in your doctor's office and takes only a few minutes. You may be asked to undress completely or only from the waist down. You'll lie down on your back on an exam table with your knees bent. Your heels rest in supports called stirrups. Your doctor will gently insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina.
The speculum holds the walls of your vagina apart so that your doctor can easily see your cervix. Inserting the speculum may cause a sensation of pressure in your pelvic area. Then your doctor will take samples of your cervical cells using a soft brush and a flat scraping device called a spatula. This usually doesn't hurt. Depending on the type of Pap testing you're undergoing, your doctor transfers the cell sample collected from your cervix into a container holding a special liquid to preserve the sample liquid-based Pap test or onto a glass slide conventional Pap smear.
The samples are transferred to a laboratory where they're examined under a microscope to look for characteristics in the cells that indicate cancer or a precancerous condition. If only normal cervical cells were discovered during your Pap smear, you're said to have a negative result. You won't need any further treatment or testing until you're due for your next Pap smear and pelvic exam. If abnormal or unusual cells were discovered during your Pap smear, you're said to have a positive result.
A positive result doesn't mean you have cervical cancer. What a positive result means depends on the type of cells discovered in your test. Squamous cells are thin and flat and grow on the surface of a healthy cervix.
In the case of ASCUS, the Pap smear reveals slightly abnormal squamous cells, but the changes don't clearly suggest that precancerous cells are present. With the liquid-based test, your doctor can reanalyze the sample to check for the presence of viruses known to promote the development of cancer, such as some types of human papillomavirus HPV.
If no high-risk viruses are present, the abnormal cells found as a result of the test aren't of great concern. If worrisome viruses are present, you'll need further testing.
Squamous intraepithelial lesion. This term is used to indicate that the cells collected from the Pap smear may be precancerous. If the changes are low grade, it means the size, shape and other characteristics of the cells suggest that if a precancerous lesion is present, it's likely to be years away from becoming a cancer. If the changes are high grade, there's a greater chance that the lesion may develop into cancer much sooner.
Additional diagnostic testing is necessary. Atypical glandular cells. Glandular cells produce mucus and grow in the opening of your cervix and within your uterus. Atypical glandular cells may appear to be slightly abnormal, but it's unclear whether they're cancerous.
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