HPV types 16 and 18 are the primary causes of cervical cancer. If you have HPV, you may be at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.
Women over the age of 65 with a history of normal Pap smear results may be able to stop having the test in the future. You should still get regular Pap smears based on your age, regardless of your sexual activity status.
These recommendations only apply to women who have a cervix. Women who have had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix and no history of cervical cancer do not need screening. Recommendations vary and should be individualized for women with compromised immune systems or a history of precancerous, or cancerous lesions. You can schedule a Pap smear with your annual gynecological examination or request a separate appointment with your gynecologist.
Pap smears are covered by most insurance plans, though you may be required to pay a co-pay. Try to avoid having sexual intercourse, douching, or using spermicidal products the day before your test because these may interfere with your results. After that, the test may be more painful. You should also wait until 12 weeks after giving birth to increase the accuracy of your results.
Your doctor will slowly insert a device called a speculum into your vagina. This device keeps the vaginal walls open and provides access to the cervix. Your doctor will scrape a small sample of cells from your cervix. There are a few ways your doctor can take this sample:. The sample of cells from your cervix will be preserved and sent to a lab to be tested for the presence of abnormal cells.
After the test, you might feel mild discomfort from the scraping or a bit of cramping. You could also experience very light vaginal bleeding immediately following the test. She does these tests all the time. Sarah : I had to take my jeans and pants off and lay down on the bed with my knees up and my legs open. Michelle : The nurse put something called a speculum into my vagina to help her see the cervix and used a small, soft brush to take the sample. Mahreen : It was all over in a few minutes and then I went back to work.
Sarah : And if they do find abnormal cells they can be treated to stop cervical cancer from developing in the first place which is definitely worth it. Your nurse will tell you when you are likely to get the results.
It usually takes around 2 to 6 weeks. You get a letter in the post with the results. Most women have a normal result and have the next screening test in 3 to 5 years, depending on their age.
Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer from developing and saves thousands of lives every year in the UK. This is called a false positive result. It leads to unnecessary worry and also the need for more tests. There is also a risk that cell changes may be missed.
This is called a false negative result. So it is important to go for screening every time you get an invite. Some women will have treatment for cervical cell changes that would not have caused any harm if they had been left alone. This is called overdiagnosis or overtreatment. Doctors offer treatment to everyone with the more abnormal cells because it is impossible to know if they would go on to develop into cancer or not. For a few women, the treatments for abnormal cells may cause problems such as bleeding afterwards or infection.
If you need to have more cervical tissue removed than usual and then in the future become pregnant, there is an increased risk of having the baby early premature birth. Since , girls aged 12 and 13 have been offered a vaccination against the human papilloma virus HPV. This is to protect against cancers caused by HPV, such as cervical cancer. The vaccine works best in young people, before they are likely to have come into contact with the virus.
The vaccine is now offered to boys too. A Scottish study in has shown a significant drop in the number of women with abnormal cervical cell changes after having routine HPV vaccination.
Although the vaccine protects against the 2 types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer, it doesn't protect against other types of HPV that are linked with cervical cancer. This means that girls who have had the HPV vaccine still need to go for cervical screening from age As well as going for screening when you are invited, you still need to look out for any unusual changes to your body.
Check for:. See your doctor if you notice anything unusual. There are many conditions that can cause these symptoms. There is, however, new hope even in advanced cancer.
A new study with a medication called nivolumab, which targets the immune system, showed that 1 in 4 women with advanced cancer responded to treatment. Early days, but exciting news. For past 20 days ive had on going pain in forehead and behind eyes, I also wake up in the morning with pain in this area, I Normally get hours sleep every night but since this started ive been Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
For details see our conditions. Our picks for Why you shouldn't skip your smear test. Can you be too old for a smear test? Blood test may detect ovarian cancer two years earlier. Cervical cancer isn't funny, but laughing at it helped me cope. Women with physical disabilities denied access to smear tests. Read next. How to get over smear test fear. Do lesbian and bisexual women still need smear tests?
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Back to top Menu. Smear test cervical screening. What is cervical screening? How healthy are you? Who needs to have cervical screening? Cervical screening and pregnancy If you're pregnant and have previously had normal screening tests, you can probably postpone routine screening until three months after having your baby. Pros Around 3, women in the UK get cervical cancer every year. Screening can pick up changes in the cells of your cervix that could lead to cervical cancer in the future.
Since the national cervical screening programme was introduced, the number of women dying from cervical cancer has halved. Cervical screening saves about 4, lives every year in England. A screening test is the best way to find out if you have HPV. Having the HPV virus is the single biggest risk for developing cervical cancer. Cons Although screening is the best way to check the health of your cervix, it isn't perfect.
If so, your result could say your cells are normal, when in fact you have some abnormal cells that could develop into cancer. This is called a false negative. This is called a false positive result. What happens during a cervical screening test?
What to expect afterwards You can carry on as normal straight away after your screening test. Getting your results Your nurse will let you know when you can expect your results.
It means one of the following three things: you have HPV but your cervical cells look normal you have HPV and also have borderline or mild changes to your cervical cells you have HPV and moderate or severe changes to your cervical cells Changes to the cells from your cervix is called dyskaryosis. Treating abnormal cervical cells There are different treatments, which either destroy the abnormal cells or remove the area of your cervix where the cells are.
Frequently asked questions Expand all. Yes, it is best to still go for your screening appointments. Did our information help you? Complete the survey. About our health information At Bupa we produce a wealth of free health information for you and your family.
Related information. Cervical cancer.
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