A Pap test, sometimes referred to as a Pap smear, is a treatment used to detect cervical cancer in female patients.
Cells from your cervix, which is the lower, thin end of your uterus that is at the top of your vagina, are collected for a Pap smear.
You have a better chance of being cured if you have a Pap smear early enough to detect cervical cancer. A Pap smear can also find alterations in your cervical cells that point to the potential for cancer to arise in the future. Your first step in preventing the potential onset of cervical cancer is to have a Pap smear early to identify these abnormal cells.
The Pap smear is usually done in conjunction with a pelvic exam. In women older than age 30, the Pap test may be combined with a test for human papillomavirus (HPV) — a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer. In some cases, the HPV test may be done instead of a Pap smear.
Pap smears are crucial for women’s healthcare and offer a number of advantages, including:
- Pap smears may detect cervical cell changes in your body that could turn into cancer if left untreated
- Pap smears can help find cervical cancer in its early stages, making it easier to treat
- Pap smears allow for early detection which could mean less treatment and less recovery
- Pap smears catch HPV that has been dormant. The HPV virus can be dormant for years and then suddenly become active so it is still important for all women to get Paps, regardless of age or sexual activity
- Pap smears are extremely accurate and regular screenings can reduce cervical cancer rates and mortality by at least 80%
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