A Pap smear is a screening method used to identify cervical cancer in women. It is typically done every year during a woman's annual gynecological exam, but can be done more frequently in women who have previously had abnormal results. Having a Pap smear completed every year increases the chances of detecting cancer early, which gives a woman a greater success rate at curing it.
Procedure
To collect a sample of a woman's cervical cells for a Pap smear, a medical professional inserts a speculum into the vagina to open the canal and reveal the cervix. While this device is in place, the professional will insert a sterile spatula and scrape the cervix to collect cells. These cells are then evaluated under microscope to identify any abnormalities.
Results
The examination of a woman's cervical cells is performed by a laboratory technician and results are typically reported to the doctor. The results from the Pap will either be negative or positive. MayoClinic.com points out that negative means the test reveals no abnormal cells. A positive result means abnormal cells, which may include precancerous cells, were discovered. Sometimes the results are false-negative, meaning the test revealed no abnormal cells but abnormal cells do exist. The results of the Pap are not taken as conclusive evidence of anything, as the Pap does not reveal exactly what kind of abnormal cells exist.
Types of Abnormal Cells
A positive result on a Pap smear indicates the presence of atypical squamous cells, or ASC. These cells are classified as ASC-US, meaning ASC with uncertain significance, or ASC-H, meaning ASC with a small possibility that precancerous cells exist, according to FamilyDoctor.org. ASC-US cells can indicate common vagina infections or human papillomavirus. If ASC-H cells are found, a doctor will order a follow up test, called a colposcopy, to take a closer look at the cervical tissues.
Follow Up
A colposcopy is a procedure conducted to determine how at risk the woman is for developing cervical cancer. To fulfill this procedure the doctor will coat the cervix with a vinegar solution, which causes abnormal areas to turn white. These areas are then examined with a colposcope, similar to a microscope, explains FamilyDoctor.org. A piece of this tissue may be removed for examination.
Prevention/Solution
FamilyDoctor.org suggests several ways a woman can avoid getting cervical cancer. Women should wait to have sex until over the age of 18 and limit the number of sexual partners. Condoms should be used consistently to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases. A woman and her partner should be tested routinely for sexually transmitted infections. Smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer and should be avoided.
Depending on the results of the Pap and the colposcopy, a woman may be given treatment or more tests. The existence of cervical warts, which are caused by human papillomavirus, or cervical dysplasia indicates the existence of precancerous tissues, explains the National Institutes of Health. It is also possible that the colposcopy will reveal that what was thought to be precancerous cells is actually cancer. These type of precancerous cells can take as many as 10 years to turn into cancer. In the meantime, abnormal cells and tissues may be removed via surgery. In rare cases, a hysterectomy will be performed to remove the woman's reproductive organs and stop the spread of abnormal cells. A woman with positive Pap results will be monitored closely in the future to identify significant changes right away.
