A pap smear is a gynecological test designed to detect premalignant and malignant processes in the cervix and uterus. Get tips and advice on preventing, diagnosing, and treating cervical and uterine cancer in this medical video.
Given by an Obstetrician or Gynecologist
Follow doctor's recommendations
Get vaccinated for HPV
Dr. Gibbons is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist with Cascadia Women's Clinic. She has a degree of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University and did her residency training with Doctor's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio in affiliation with Ohio St. University. She enjoys her work and loves the people she works with.
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.
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