Abnormal Pap Smears - Facts
- All women age 18 and older (younger, if sexually active) must have regular Pap smear screenings to detect symptoms of an abnormal Pap smears.
- The Pap Smear test is the only screening test for cancer, in the world, which has caused a decrease in occurrences and deaths from cancer.
- A Pap Smear is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test; further evaluation is required when abnormal changes are detected.
- A normal Pap Smear is not a guarantee of no cancer; it does not detect cancers of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
- Your physician may advise you to continue having regular Pap smears even after a hysterectomy.
- Your physician will determine when you should have your next Pap smear, though every 6-12 months is usually recommended.
- Pap Smears can be safely performed during pregnancy
A new pap test has been developed, the PapNet test. The cost is slightly higher than a normal Pap test; however, the benefit of catching pre-cancerous changes, several years earlier should outweigh any additional cost.
Abnormal Pap Smears - What causes Abnormal Pap smears?
Abnormal Pap smears results are often explained by an infection or an inflammation. Yeast infections, herpes, trichomonas, recent sexual activity, or use of vaginal preparations, are often things, which cause an abnormal Pap smear result.
Many times the culprit of an abnormal Pap smear is HPV or human papilloma virus, sometimes referred to as genital warts. HPV is a common infection in women and has been detected in women in their seventies; up to 60% of sexually- active women may carry this virus on their cervix, genital area, or skin and are completely unaware of it.
Abnormal Pap Smears - How a pap smear looks...
When your Pap smear is sent to the lab it is viewed under a microscope, a normal Pap smear will appear as in this photo from the Mayo Clinic and an abnormal Pap smear will appear in a distorted manner as in this photo depicting cervical cancer, also from the Mayo Clinic.
Source: Copyright © 2003 About, Inc. About and About.com
Abnormal Pap Smears - More valuable information from Dr. Joe Glickman, Jr.
Dr. Joe Glickman, Jr. has compiled a number of studies that should be of interest to anyone wanting to learn more about abnormal pap smears. Dr. Glickman has written medical textbooks that have been used to train medical students for over 20 years. His ability to simplify information is very helpful. Be sure to check out www.health-science-report.com
which is a compilation of Dr. Glickman's research.
