Pap Smear Health Video

Video Transcript

DR. LISA GIBBONS: Hi. My name is Lisa Gibbons and I'm an obstetrician/gynecologist with Cascadia Women's Clinic in Vancouver, Washington. I'd like to briefly talk about Pap smears. A Pap smear is a procedure that we perform in the office. It is performed through a speculum exam to evaluate the cells of the cervix for pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. This is performed, as I said, in the office via a speculum exam with a brush that we obtain shedding epithelial and squamous cells from the cervix. These are sent in a solution to pathology where they evaluate under a microscope any abnormalities to the cells and return or report to us typically within a week's time period; if this returns abnormal then the office would contact you for further evaluation and treatment options at that time. A Pap smear is important because it does decrease the risk of invasive cervical cancer which is much more difficult to treat that in the pre-invasive forms, and a Pap smear is recommended for ladies who are aged 21 or three years after their first sexual encounter and then annually thereafter. There are some other potential criteria for Pap smear. If you're over 35 and in a monogamous relationship, have not had an abnormal Pap smear in the past, and are not immunocompromised, those may potentially go out to every 2 to 3 years, and if you've had a hysterectomy for noncancerous reasons, then the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology states that you don't necessarily have to have a Pap smear any longer. If you have had an abnormal Pap smear in the past and have had a hysterectomy, I would encourage you talking to your obstetrician/gynecologist about the recommendations for your Pap smear's timeframe. The Human papillomavirus is what is responsible for cervical cancer and this is a virus that is sexually transmitted and it is very prevalent in the United Stated as the number one STD. The FDA approved a vaccine for the HPV in 2006 and it is recommended for ladies aged 9 to 26, most importantly to be started before intercourse if possible. I would strongly encourage you also talking to your obstetrician/gynecologist to see if this is an option for you as well.