pap smear, why?

Question

why do we have to have a pap smear?

why is it if you have never had sex you don't need it?

why is it if you have had sex but never have sex again you still have to have a pap smear?

thanks for any answeres

Answer 1

Hi, there. I have never heard that if you are not sexually active it means that you don't need an annual pap smear. Most doctors will tells you that if you are sexually active OR if you have reached the age of 21, you need an annual test.

As to the reasons for getting one, webmd says that a Pap smear is used to look at a sample of cells taken from a woman's cervix. The test is used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix that show cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer. It is considered your best tool to detect pre-cancerous conditions and hidden, small tumors that may lead to cervical cancer. A pap smear is not necessarily going to tell you if you have STDs; it may detect the presence of one, but a person would still probably need additional tests. However, being sexually active you are more at risk for cervical problems, so that's why they tell you if you have started being active you need to start getting an annual exam, even if you haven't hit age 21. Also, if you have a family history that would put you at risk for cervical cancer, you may need to get checked earlier than age 21 or more often than once a year, regardless of your sexual activity.

I get an annual pap smear, and although slightly uncomfortable I figure it's worth a few minutes of discomfort to keep my health in check, especially with a husband and a family to think about. Just like doing regular breast exams, it's one of those exams that is important to our general health maintenance. Good luck to you and hope this info helps answer your questions!

Answer 2

Pap smears and pelvic exams in general let the doctors examine your vagina and cervic and enables them to get samples of cells for laboratory work. They can notice things like Bartholin's Cysts, sores, and other medical things that can occur even without intercourse.

You need one after about 25 or after having sex. The reason is that most sexually transmitted is what is of concern to the doctor. That is what 95% of the visit is for since women have such a delecate reproductive system that can be devistated by disease. Increase partners (and yes even just one) increase you chances for STDs, pregnancy, and the big thing on the doctors minds, Cervical Cancer.

If you just have sex once and then not again you still need a pap smear. Reason is partially because the patient can't be trusted. Its easier to do it then to fully investigate a woman's claimed chastity. The main reason is that HPV is previlent and may not show up on the first exam or even the 2nd 3rd or 5th. They must serially do them in order to determine if you have any cervical cellular changes that my indicate cervical cancer.

Hope this answered you questions.

Answer 3

Your cervix is an organ like any other. Cervical cancer is often detected by this proceedure; it often has few or no symptoms until it is very far along.

Recently, certain strains of HSV (a viral infection passed through sex) have been shown to cause cervical cancer. But NOT ALL women who have cervical cancer have one of these viral infections.

Therefore even older women who haven't had sex (I don't know, if you're a nun or something) should have it done because it is a minimally invasive way to find out if the cells of the cervix are changing in a bad way.