Cervical Cancer and the Importance of Routine Pap Smears

To stay on top of your health as a woman, it’s important to have routine Pap smears. As January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, the health professionals at The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group want to remind all women to schedule their yearly exam to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer and other health complications.

The basics of a Pap smear

A Pap smear is a routine, minimally invasive screening that can detect changes in cells found in your cervix. These changes can indicate precancerous conditions or the presence of cervical cancer.

By having routine Pap smears, your provider can track and monitor early changes to ensure you get the earliest treatment possible.

A Pap smear is usually a part of a routine pelvic exam. The test involves collecting cells found in your cervix using a long cotton swab. This sample of cells is then sent to a medical laboratory for additional evaluation.

Getting your Pap smear results

If no noticeable cell changes are present in your sample, your Pap test results are regarded as normal. However, if your test comes back showing abnormalities, additional testing may be necessary.

It’s important to note that abnormal Pap test results don’t always indicate cancer. There may be other underlying issues that have caused the abnormalities. These issues may include:

• Infections
• Douching
• Using tampons
• Recent menstruation
• Recent sexual activity

These issues can affect the results of your test and may require you to undergo another Pap smear or other diagnostic tests.

Another common cause of abnormal Pap results includes the presence of the human papilloma virus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus. HPV can clear up on its own without medical treatment, but in some cases, HPV can result in different types of reproductive cancer, including cervical cancer.

Getting further analysis

If additional testing shows you have abnormal Pap smear results, you may need further screenings to determine the cause.

Testing may include a colposcopy, which is similar to a pelvic exam. However, your provider will use a special magnifying instrument to get a better look at your cervix and identify any areas of concern.

If precancerous or cancerous cells are present in your cervix, your provider may recommend a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), which uses a heated tool to remove abnormal tissues from your cervix. In many cases, a LEEP procedure can effectively eliminate all cancerous cells, and you won’t need further treatment.

Understanding your cervical cancer risk

If you are associated with certain risk factors, you may have a higher likelihood of developing cervical cancer at some point in your life. These risk factors include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Poor diet
• Family history
• Weak immune system
• Long-term use of birth control

Having HPV or another sexually transmitted disease can also increase your risk of developing cervical and other reproductive cancers.

During your annual well-woman exam, your provider can determine if your risk factors for developing cervical cancer require other testing in addition to your yearly Pap smear.

You should also focus your efforts on reducing your risk for developing cervical cancer by eating more fruits and vegetables, getting sufficient exercise, and quitting smoking.

Schedule your annual Pap smear today by calling The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group or by using the online booking feature.