Pap smear - avoiding cervical cancer

They used to say have this test every 2 years. I think even it doesn't even hurt to do it yearly if your concerned.

What is a pap smear ?
A Pap smear is used to screen for cervical cancer. 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 women.

How is a Pap smear done?

A Pap smear is performed in your doctor's office and takes only a few minutes. You may be asked to undress completely or only from the waist down. ... Then your doctor will take samples of your cervical cells using a soft brush or a flat scraping device called a spatula. This usually doesn't hurt. As we know prevention is better than cure.

New findings they are exploring new ways to do this testing! Through DNA

DNA screening for the HPV virus is more effective than Pap-smear-like methods for detecting pre-cancerous cells, researchers have found.

HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus and it is the virus that causes about 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases. The new test looks for the presence of the HPV virus rather than looking for pre-cancerous changes in cells (that can occur because of the virus). It is a more accurate test and can detect potential problems earlier, experts said.

#papsmear #womanstests #awareness #iamstillawoman

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