Inspection PAP smear need to be done regularly to detect cervical cancer. This is important because kcervical cancer is diseasewhich is very dangerous and can cause death, but can be cured if detected and treated early.
PAP smear is a procedure for taking cervical or cervical tissue samples to check the condition of cervical cells in the laboratory. Through this examination, the doctor can detect whether there are abnormalities in the cells or tissues in the cervix that lead to cervical cancer.
PAP smear it is recommended to do it regularly, ie every 3-5 years, depending on your disease history and age. PAP smear Usually it can be done since the age of 21 years.
Procedure Inspection PAP smear
You need to consult a doctor first before doing PAP smear. The reason is, in some conditions, for example when you are menstruating, you may be advised to postpone this examination, so that the results are more accurate.
Then, you are also advised not to have sex, use vaginal cleaning fluids, use tampons, or drugs since 2 days before the examination. PAP smear done.
The following is the inspection procedure flow PAP smear:
1. Wearing special clothes
When you arrive at the hospital and are in the examination room, you will be asked to take off the clothes you are wearing, then change into special clothes that have been provided by the hospital.
2. Lying on the examination table
After you wear special clothes, the doctor will ask you to lie down on the examination table with your legs spread apart.
3. Vaginal opening
The doctor will insert an instrument shaped like a duck or speculum into the mouth of your vagina. The speculum can open the vaginal opening and help widen the field of vision, so that the cervical and vaginal areas can be seen more clearly.
4. Tissue sampling
Once the speculum is in place, the doctor will take a sample of cervical tissue using a special plastic spatula and a small brush. After the tissue sample is taken, the speculum is slowly removed.
5. Laboratory examination
The sample that has been taken will then be sent to the laboratory for testing. Check up result PAP smear usually it will come out after a few days or about 1−2 weeks.
PAP smear usually only takes about 10−20 minutes. This procedure can be painful and uncomfortable, but you don't have to be afraid to undergo it, because the pain is usually only mild and temporary.
When doing PAP smear, the doctor may also recommend an examination human papillomavirus (HPV) to detect the presence of the HPV virus that causes sexually transmitted infections or genital warts, which can also cause cervical cancer.
Who Needs PAP smear?
As previously explained, women who are 21 years old or sexually active are advised to undergo an examination PAP smear.
For women aged 21–29 years, examination PAP smear should be done regularly, ie every 3 or 5 years. Meanwhile, for women aged 30–65 years who undergo PAP smear as well as an HPV test, can carry out both inspections regularly every 5 years.
Women aged 65 years and over generally do not need to have an examination PAP smear, if the results of the examination PAP smear previously normal or did not have complaints that should be suspected as cervical cancer, such as vaginal bleeding after menopause.
However, a woman may be advised to undergo more frequent examinations pap smear, if the doctor finds abnormalities in cervical tissue and has certain medical conditions, such as immunodeficiency due to HIV/AIDS or side effects of chemotherapy.
In order to be prevented from cervical cancer, you need to undergo healthy and safe sex behavior, namely by not changing sexual partners and always wearing a condom when having sex. In addition, you also need to regularly do Pap smear test for early detection of cervical cancer.
By checking PAP smear regularly according to the schedule recommended by the doctor, cervical cancer can be detected early and treated immediately. The sooner cervical cancer is treated, the higher the chance of cure.
