How an Annual Pap Smear Can Prevent Cervical Cancer
Every year in the United States, roughly 100,000 women are treated for cervical precancer, unusual cell or tissue changes that are more likely to develop into cancer in the future. Another 14,000 are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, while roughly 4,000 die from the disease.
At Pflugerville OBGYN, our team helps women reduce their risk of cervical cancer with annual Pap smears, simple, painless diagnostic tests that look for those unusual tissue changes associated with cancer. In recognition of Cervical Health Awareness Month, our team offers a brief overview of Pap smears, including the role they play in cancer prevention and what happens if your results are abnormal.
Pap smear basics
Pap smears collect a small sample of cells from the surface of your cervix, the opening of your uterus. The screening process is completely painless and takes just a few moments to perform.
During the exam, you recline on an exam table with your feet in special footrests or stirrups. Your doctor gently opens the vaginal canal with an instrument called a speculum, then inserts a long-handled swab to collect the cell sample from your cervix.
The swab is sent to a lab for evaluation of the cells, specifically looking for abnormal changes associated with precancers. These changes don’t cause any noticeable symptoms, even though they can lead to cancer later.
In fact, having regular cervical cancer screening exams is the only way to “catch” these changes before cancer develops — and that’s why regular exams are so important for your health and wellness.
The CDC recommends women begin having Pap smears at age 21 and continue at least until age 65. After age 65, you and your doctor will decide how frequently you need to be screened.
Abnormal results: What happens
When pap smear results are abnormal, it can definitely be nerve-racking — but the good news is, those abnormal results don’t necessarily mean you have cancer or you’re at risk of developing cancer. Abnormal results can be caused by other common issues, like hormonal shifts or infections, like HPV (human papillomavirus).
If your results are abnormal, we may recommend a second Pap smear so we can compare results, or we may perform a different type of test called colposcopy. This simple exam begins the same way as a Pap smear, but once you’re reclining on the table, we use a lighted magnifier to examine your cervix and your vaginal walls. (The magnifying device stays on the “outside” of your body — it’s not inserted.)
We also apply a special fluid applied to the cervix and the area around it. This fluid helps highlight abnormal cells so they’re more visible. If we spot any unusual tissue, we take a tiny sample (a biopsy) for further lab evaluation.
Schedule your Pap smear today
Our team offers Pap smears as part of annual wellness visits, helping women play a more proactive role in their health now and in the future. To schedule your Pap smear, request an appointment with the team at Pflugerville OBGYN in Pflugerville, Texas, today.