inflammation of the cervix
The Importance of a Routine Pap Smear for Women
Getting a pap smear isn’t a pleasant process, but it is something that a woman should be doing annually. This particular check up can help to identify signs that there is something wrong. It could be something minor or the onset of cervical cancer. Many women are embarrassed by the process of a pap smear but keep in mind that the medical staff involved are all professionals.
A pap smear doesn’t hurt and if it does, let your doctor know. That can be a sign of an inflammation of the cervix. During the testing, cells from the cervix will be placed on slide so they can be looked at under a microscope. If you have a family history of cervical cancer, than you should make getting a regular pap smear a priority. Make sure you inform your doctor if you have anyone in your family with such a medical history.
Sometimes a pap smear will come back showing abnormal cells. If that is the case your doctor will ask you to come in for a second test. Based on those results, treatment may have to be looked at. Most of the time, the cells will be fine and there is nothing else that has to be done. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes but it can help you to be healthier so it is worth the time.
Getting a pap smear is something young girls should be doing if they are sexually active. Talk to your daughters about that and schedule an appointment for them. Make sure they understand what the procedure will be so that they aren’t anxious about it. For many women over 30, it may be fine to get a pap smear only every 3 years. However, this is only true if the results have been satisfactory in the past.
Women that have many sexual partners are at a greater risk of STDs. That can be determined during a pap smear as well. In fact, many women don’t have a clue they have an STD until they do such a test. In the meantime, they may be infecting other men due to taking part in unprotected intercourse.
A woman that has had a hysterectomy no longer needs to have pap smears. However, even older women that no longer take part in sexual activities need to continue getting them. There is always a chance of cancer cells forming or other health problems. They can go unnoticed until they are in advanced stages if the pap smears aren’t being conducted.
With so many women not having health insurance coverage, too often the length of time they between pap smears is very long. If you don’t have insurance, there are various clinics out there that offer sliding scale fees. The goal of these establishments is to make sure women are able to afford taking care of their health. Contact them to find out what they have available.