Every woman 18 and older should have an annual pap smear if she is sexually active. A pap smear is a screening aid to test for cancer or abnormalities. Once the pap smear is complete, you will get results (normal or abnormal) in a short amount of time. If results were normal, the doctor didn't see any abnormalities of your cervix cells. If the results were abnormal, it means that the doctor found something that was not normal but this doesn't always mean you have cancer.
Abnormal Pap Smear
There can be many reasons for an abnormal pap smear and the culprit is frequently an infection or inflammation. Other reasons could be a yeast infection, present-day sexual activity, herpes, vaginal products or even trichomonas, an infection of the vagina. A majority of the time, an abnormal pap smear is caused by HPV, human papilloma virus, also known as genital warts. Cancer is sometimes the reasoning behind an abnormal pap smear but not always.
Classifications of a Pap Smear
Class 1 is a normal pap smear and no treatment is needed. Class 2 is atypical, which means it could be caused by infection or inflammation in which you might need to have another pap smear or a colposcopy. Class 3 is considered low grade, pre-cancerous or dysplasia in which you will have to receive a colposcopy to help determine further treatment. Class 4 is high grade dysplasia and a colposcopy is advised and sometimes a Cone biopsy is also advised. Class 5 means cancer and you will have to have a colposcopy to help determine how severe the cancer is to know what further treatment is required.
Colposcopy
Colposcopy is a tool that helps find the abnormalities in pap smears. It examines the cervix and luckily is normally painless and pretty simple, lasting no longer than 15 minutes typically. You will undergo similar procedures as with a pap smear except the doctor will apply a topical aid to your cervix so that light will not pass through. Your doctor will then look at your cervix focusing on any area that light doesn't go through.
Abnormal Pap Smear During Pregnancy
It is still common to have an abnormal pap smear while you are pregnant. Colposcopy can still be used while you are pregnant but any procedures involving treatment will be put on hold until you have had the baby. Your baby is not at harm if you do in fact have an abnormal pap smear and most times when the baby is born it will wash away any of the cervical cells that were abnormal.
Normal Pap Smear
There are things you can do to help ensure you have accurate and normal pap smear results. Do not have sexual intercourse at least one day prior to your pap smear. Do not use any topical creams on the vagina or medications and do not douche at least three days prior to your pap smear. Try to set your pap smear appointment so that it falls two weeks after your first day of your last menstrual cycle.
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