pap smears?

Question

what exactly is a pap smear for? i have heard its so they can look for std's and others say no its for cervical cancer....im very confused...and im having a hard time explaining it to my sis...if its not to check for std's, then how do they test u for venereal diseases????

i am sexually active however, this is my first year...it started in August..

Answer 1

What is a Pap smear?

A Pap smear is a test that checks for changes in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Other terms for Pap smear are Papanicolaou smear, Pap test, and cervical smear. The main purpose of the Pap test is to find abnormal cell changes that may arise from cervical cancer or before cancer develops.

What is a pelvic exam?

In a pelvic exam, the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum are felt to find any abnormality in their shape or size. During a pelvic exam, an instrument called a speculum is used to widen the vagina so that the upper portion of the vagina and the cervix can be seen.

Why is a Pap smear important?

A Pap smear and pelvic exam are important parts of a woman’s routine health care because they can detect abnormalities that may lead to invasive cancer of the cervix. These abnormalities can be treated before cancer develops. Also, as with many types of cancer, cancer of the cervix is more likely to be treated successfully if it is detected early. The Pap smear tests for abnormal changes in the cervical cells. A precancerous change in the cells, called cervical dysplasia, can be detected by a Pap smear. The abnormal cells can develop into cancer if the dysplasia is not discovered and treated. The Pap smear may also detect viral infections of the cervix, such as genital warts and herpes. It may detect vaginal infections such as infections with yeast or trichomonas. Sometimes the Pap smear can give information about the hormones, especially progesterone and estrogen. Most women should get a Pap smear at least every year, especially if they are sexually active.

You are at an increased risk for cervical cancer if:


You have had an abnormal Pap smear.

You began to have sexual intercourse in your teens or earlier.

You have a history of many sexual partners.

You or your sexual partner has had genital wart virus infection.

You have had vulvar or vaginal cancer.

Your sexual partner has or had cancer of the penis.

You smoke cigarettes.

Your immune system is weakened; for example, because you have had a transplant, you are taking immunosuppressive drugs, or you have AIDS.
Pap smears can detect precancerous and cancerous conditions. If these conditions are discovered, there is a good chance that simple treatment will prevent the development or spread of cancer.

How to prepare for a Pap smear?

Do not use vaginal creams during the 2 days before the test. Do not have intercourse within 24 hours before the Pap smear because it can cause inaccurate test results. You should get this test done when you are not menstruating; the best time is between 10 and 20 days after the first day of the last menstrual period.

How is a Pap test done?

A Pap test is simple, quick, and painless; it can be done in a doctor’s office, a clinic, or a hospital. While a woman lies on an exam table, the clinician inserts a speculum into her vagina to widen it. A sample of cells is taken from the cervix with a wooden scraper and/or a small cervical brush. The specimen (or smear) is placed on a glass slide and preserved with a fixative, or is rinsed in a vial of fixative, and is sent to a laboratory for examination.

What happens after the procedure?

If the cells look normal, no treatment is necessary. The Pap test may show that you have an infection. The doctor may treat you for the infection and suggest that you have another Pap test in several months. If the cells look abnormal, more tests may be necessary. Discuss with the doctor when you should return for any tests or a follow-up exam. A Pap test is not 100% accurate. There are newer methods used now for Pap testing, including computer-assisted testing, which are more accurate. However, these newer methods cost more.

Answer 2

Pap smears merely check the health of your cervical cells. It does not test for STD's. If you want to be tested for STD's you have to ask for that to be done as that is not something the docs do routinely. WIth a pap test it will either show that your cells are normal or abnormal. An abnormal does not always mean you have HPV or even cervical cancer but it means something is wrong. Almost all women have an abnormal pap at one time or another. You should start getting a yearly pap and pelvic exam when you turn 18 or when you become sexually active which ever comes first.

Answer 3

You do NOT desire a pap smear if you're a virgin. If you're or had been sexually energetic then I suppose the endorsed age in America is eighteen (going through what folks on right here have stated). In the UK it is 25. Pap smears appear for Cervical Intra-epithelial Neoplasia (CIN) that's the pre-cancerous difference that occurs within the cells taken out of your cervix. You would possibly not get CIN with no need had Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) at a few factor, as designated traces of this virus are the fundamental intent of cervical melanoma. Most sexually energetic ladies will agreement HPV at a while, most often with out ever realising. If you have under no circumstances been sexually energetic, you don't have reduced in size HPV so probabilities of getting CIN are close to nil. It's predominant to head for pap smears each and every two or three years as soon as you have had intercourse.

Answer 4

A pap smear is only to test for abnormal cells on the cervix which can be from many things NOT just HPV. Abnormal cells can lead to cancer. If you want to be tested for STD's that is a completely different test which is done by blood tests and also taking mucosa from the vagina then it is looked at under a microscope. (Lots of people have HPV there are hundreds of strains of the disease some of which cause no problems at all. There is also a vaccine against a few strains of the disease.)

Answer 5

It can be for both. A pap smear is to check for cervical cancer, which most of the time is caused by HPV the human papaloma virus. When they do a pap smear they can also take swabs of the mucous to check for std's or they can do blood tests. But the pap smear itself is to check for pre cancerous lesions or cancer cells.

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure the actual pap smear is to check for irregular cells on your cervix that could lead to cancer. That would be HPV which is an STD. They can also tell if you have some other STD's but usually they do a blood test to see if you have others. You have to ask to be fully tested for them to do it.

Answer 7

YOU NEED a papsmear then... you should have been having pap's since you started your cycle.