Understanding the PAP Smear - Test Your PAP Smear IQ

Despite the fact that the PAP smear has been the golden standard for cervical cancer screening for many years, recent developments have brought its utility into question. Recommendations for the frequency of PAP smears have changed radically in the past year. The widespread use of a vaccine to help reduce the risk of cervical cancer is now in place. HPV testing is also a common screening tool. Even the PAP test itself has changed as there is now a liquid PAP test. How much do you know about the PAP smear? The ten facts as presented below may surprise you.

Wait Till About 3 Years After You First Have Intercourse to Have a PAP Smear

The recommended course of action for getting PAP smears used to be starting at age 18 or after you become sexually active. This has changed as a result of recent studies. It has been discovered that abnormal cells, typically thought to be pre-cancerous, often clear up without medical intervention, especially in younger women. In addition, abnormal cervical cells are slow changing and therefore the window of time to diagnose them is larger. One of the studies that support this, initially diagnosed 43% of women with HPV, but at the end of the study only 9% still had it.

If you have been sexually assaulted at a young age, it is important to get an initial PAP smear in your teens because of being at high risk for certain problems.

PAP Smears Do Not Diagnose STDs

PAP smears are simply a test of the cervical cells in order to diagnose cancer. A HPV test can also be done at the same time as a PAP smear. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. Other STDs are tested in other ways.

The HPV Virus is At the Root Of Most Cervical Cancer Cases

HPV virus comes in 30 different strains, some of which are low risk and others are high risk. Two of the high risk types of HPV have been deemed responsible for up to 70% of all cervical cancer cases.

PAP Smears Are Still Necessary Despite the HPV Vaccine

HPV vaccines are highly effective at preventing the high risk types of HPV. However there are other types of HPV that you are not protected from with the vaccine. For this reason, you should continue to get PAP smears on a recommended basis.

You Can Get PAP Smears Less Frequently if You are Over Age 30 and Have Consecutive Normal Results

If your last 3 PAP smears have yielded normal results, you can get retested only every 3 years (or more often if you prefer). After age 30, doctors typically test for HPV and if positive will monitor with additional follow-up testing. It is a strong indicator of problems that may arise.

Certain High Risk Women Need Yearly PAP Smears

Any woman who has been exposed to DES before birth or who has an impaired immune system is considered to be high risk. She should have regular yearly PAP smears.

Most Cervical Cancer is Found In Those Who Have Gotten Slack About PAP Smears

It has been reported that 50% of those diagnosed with cervical cancer have not gotten a PAP smear in the past 5 years.

There is a Better Test Out There Than the PAP Smear

There are HPV tests which are based on DNA that are much more accurate at diagnosing lesions of the cervix than a PAP smear. They are 94.6% sensitive in comparison with PAP smears that are 55% sensitive. The HPV tests are more costly and produce more false positives.

Liquid PAP Smears Are Not The Better Alternative

Liquid based tests are similar to conventional PAP tests in their efficacy for detecting cell abnormalities. The liquid test however has other advantages, such as allowing for ease of HPV testing at the same time.

You May Still Need PAP Smears Following A Hysterectomy

If you have had a hysterectomy and are younger than 65, you will need to continue getting PAP smears if your cervix has been left in place following a hysterectomy. If you have had cancer you will need to continue getting PAP smears even past the usual cut-off age.

Knowledge of PAP smears will ensure that you continue to have this very important screening test done as frequently as necessary. Further questions about it can be answered by your doctor.

Back To:   Medical Guides