An estimated 12,200 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States in 2010. The cervix, considered the neck of the womb, connects the vagina to the uterus or womb. Cervical abnormalities usually begin as precancerous changes in...
According to The National Cancer Institute, the vast majority of cervical cancers can be prevented. Since the most common form of cervical cancer starts with preventable and easily detectable pre-cancerous changes, there are two ways to prevent...
Gynecologic procedures are used to help diagnose and treat gynecologic problems or if your physician notices anything abnormal during your pelvic exam. Some procedures can be done right in the physician's office, while others are done in a clinic...
If you have genital warts that are visible to the eye, they are very easy to diagnose. The warts look either like flat, flesh-colored bumps or cauliflower-looking clusters of bumps. These bumps can be located anywhere around your genital area,...
The College of American Pathologists defines cervical dysplasia as the growth of abnormal cells on the surface of the lining of the cervix. If cervical dysplasia is not treated, it can develop into cervical cancer. Treatment for cervical dysplasia...
A pap smear is a procedure that tests for the presence of cancerous cells in the cervix. The cervix is the narrow end of the uterus that sits on top of the vagina. A pap smear is performed by taking a sample of the cells in the cervix and...
Pap smears are often performed as part of a normal gynecolgical exam to look for signs and risk factors for cervical cancer. With a Pap smear, a cotton swab is inserted into the vagina and brushed up against the cervix in order to get a sampling...
Pap smears can diagnose cervical cancer at a very early stage. Pap smears, which are simple, painless tests that examine cells scraped off the surface of the cervix, should be done every 3 years up until age 65 to 70. Most laboratories grade pap...
Cervical dysplasia refers to the abnormal growth of cells on the cervix. The abnormal cells are classified into low-grade or high-grade lesions. The Pap smear test was designed to assess for cervical dysplasia, also known as cervical...
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...
The Pap test has been in use since the 1950s and is a highly successful screening exam for the prevention of cancer. A Pap test's primary purpose is the detection of premalignant cell changes involving the uterine cervix. According to the Agency...
A part of a woman's annual gynecological examination, a Pap smear takes a cell sample from the cervix. The University of Michigan University Health Center recommends regular Pap smears for women who are 21 and older or those who have been sexually...
Pap smears are often performed as part of a routine gynecological examination. This screening test allows gynecologists to detect abnormal cells that can be indicative of cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition....
What is a Pap Smear (or a Papanicolauo's Test)?
Pap smears, also called cervical smears, are very important for women who start having sex in their early teens. This may be because the young cervix is more vulnerable to cancerous changes when...