Pap Smears
1 July 2015
Heather Courtney
The Pap Smear, a procedure most women dread and put off having, but a pap smear is a quick and simple investigation that may save your life!
Why should I have a pap smears?
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers through regular cervical screening and most women who develop cervical cancer have not had regular Pap smears.
Pap smears are not a test for cancer, they are a test that looks at the cells of the cervix for signs of inflammation or change. If these changes are not monitored or go untreated they may develop into a cancer in the future.
Who needs to have a Pap smear?
The current guidelines recommend that all woman who are sexually active or have been sexually active in the past should have pap smear.
Screening should start at the age of between 18-20 years or within 1-2 years of first sexual intercourse whichever is later.
How often should I have a pap smear?
If the pap smear is normal they should be carried out every 2 years.
The rules change if the pap smear is abnormal or if you develop abnormal signs or symptoms in which case pap smears will become more frequent.
These symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding (such as bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause or intermittent bleeding), unusual vaginal discharge or pelvic pain. If you develop any of these symptoms you should consult your doctor.
If necessary, women will be referred to a gynaecologist for further investigation and/or treatment.
When can I stop having pap smears?
Once you turn 70+ cervical screening can stop provided your previous 2 pap smears have been normal within the past 5 years.
Some woman who have had a hysterectomy may not require further cervical screening depending on the reason for the hysterectomy, this should be discussed with your doctor.
What causes Cervical cancer?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus that has been linked to the development of cervical cancer, although most women with HPV will not develop cervical cancer.
When cervical cancer develops, HPV is found in almost all cases.
Since February 2013, the free HPV vaccine (Gardasil) was introduced through a school-based program for
- Males and females aged 12-13 years occurring in the first year of secondary school;
However, regular Pap smears are still important for women who have been vaccinated against cervical cancer.
What increases my risk of developing cervical cancer?
A number of other factors that may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer, include increasing age, smoking, and lowered immunity.
It is rare for women to have any signs or symptoms of cervical cancer early in the disease which is why regular screening is essential.
So don’t put off your next pap smear, it is a very worthwhile investigation!