Most women can be at risk of developing cervical cancer. Lifestyle habits like smoking, chronic illnesses and family history could increase your likelihood of poor reproductive health. Read on to discover why you should go for regular pap smear tests.

What is a Pap Smear Test?

A pap smear is a test which examines traces of abnormal cells that could become cancerous in your cervix. Moreover, it can be used to diagnose inflammation and infections, which may affect your reproductive health when left untreated. Even though it can’t pick up a specific type of infection, it can monitor the variation of bacterial growth, yeast infections or related parasites to determine the necessity of further tests and appropriate treatment.

Research suggests that cervical cancer is the second leading type of cancer in women, with nearly 11,000 annual reported cases. Regular pap smear tests can show the gradual change of the cells from low abnormal levels to full-blown cervical cancer. This is why women should schedule their screenings as soon as they become sexually active.

How is a Pap Smear Performed?

While the procedure is quick, it can be uncomfortable, and you might experience some light bleeding that shouldn’t last longer than 24 hours. During the screening, here’s what to expect from your healthcare provider:

• A speculum, a metal or plastic tool used to open the cervix, will be inserted.
• Swabs cervical cells with a small brush or spatula.
• Placing the swabbed cells in a jar.
• Removing the speculum.
• Sending the sample to the lab for results.

If the test results suggest precancerous abnormalities, your healthcare provider will recommend the most effective treatment. It will also depend on whether the cells have rapidly developed and are at high risk to your health. In some instances, you might require follow-up tests if the results are unclear or indicate an underlying infection.

Reasons Why You Should Schedule a Pap Smear Test

Detecting Chronic Infections

There are various sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, genital herpes and HPV (human papillomavirus), which require immediate treatment. However, sometimes, you might not be aware of a growing infection and require further diagnosis to understand when you have a high-risk strain. A pap smear screening can help identify abnormalities in your cervical cells that are a result of STIs, such as HPV, which can lead to severe reproductive health problems.

Screening for Cervical Cancer

Did you know that a regular pap smear test detects cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer? Precancer cells can be in the cervix and remain undetected for a long time until they develop into cervical cancer. When these cells are abnormal but not yet cancerous, they’re referred to as cervical precancer and can be treated before progressing to severe cervical cancer.

To Improve Overall Health

Investing in your reproductive health can have direct benefits, from preventing high-risk pregnancies and lowering the harm of infections to providing an accurate diagnosis of specific health concerns. Some infections might be present without warning signs, even though they could harm your physical health. Moreover, a pap smear can safeguard you from potentially chronic illnesses such as endometriosis and ovarian cysts.

To Monitor Risk Factors

If you have a weakened immune system, cervical precancer and a history of cervical cancer in the family, scheduling a pap smear screening can help monitor if these risk factors pose a significant health risk. Other factors that might require a test include being a smoker, contraceptive pill use and contracting an STI. A pap smear can be important to provide preventative measures to improve your long-term health.

The thought of scheduling a pap smear and waiting for the results might be terrifying. However, it’s important to follow this routine screening and improve the quality of your reproductive health. Affinity Health provides essential health coverage for reliable access to doctor consultations for a regular pap smear test and referrals for a specialist visit if you require a follow-up visit.