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Pap smears –What is it and why women should have them. Who needs a Papsmear. All women over 18 years who have ever had sex are advised to have a Pap smear every two years, even if they no longer have sex.
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Who needs a Papsmear • All women over 18 years who have ever had sex are advised to have a Pap smear every two years, even if they no longer have sex. • If a woman starts sexual activity at a younger age, screening should start within two years of first sexual intercourse. • Women over 70 years may stop having Pap smears if they have had two normal smears in the previous
How Often • Pap smears should be done routinely every two years. Pap smears sometimes need to be done more often than every two years if: • a) the previous Pap smear results were abnormal • b) there are any symptoms which are different from normal for that woman, such as vaginal discharge, pain, bleeding from the vagina between menstrual periods or after sexual intercourse, or • c) the woman experiences changes in menstruation that are unusual compared to her usual menstrual flow.
Explaining the Pap smear test to women • Many women find a Pap smear test an embarrassing experience and some find the procedure a little uncomfortable. • For some women having a Pap smear may also bring up issues related to past sexual abuse or other negative sexual experiences. • Having a Pap smear should not be painful and if the woman is able • to relax it will help. • Women will be more relaxed if they understand as fully as possible what is going to happen to them. (1 of 2)
Explaining the Pap smear test to women • Verbal explanations may need to include basic messages about why it is important to have Pap smears • “All women have Pap smears.” “I have pap smears • Verbal explanations may also need to include basic messages about what is appropriate touching in relation to having a Pap smear • “It is not OK for people to touch you between the legs unless you want them to.” But • “It is OK for the doctor or nurse to touch you between the legs when you have a Pap smear as this is a necessary part of the procedure. All women have the doctor or nurse touch them between their legs when they have a Pap smear.”
The link between cervical cancer and HPV (human papillomavirus) • HPV is a virus (the human papillomavirus). • • Almost all abnormal Pap smear results are caused by HPV. • • Anyone who has ever had sex can have HPV – it is so common that four out of five people will have had HPV at some time in their lives. • • In most cases HPV clears up by itself in one to two years. • • In rare cases, if the HPV virus persists and is left undetected, • it can lead to cervical cancer. This usually takes about 10 years. • • A Pap smear every two years can detect any abnormal cell changes caused by HPV, which can then be monitored and/or treated to prevent cancer
The HPV vaccine • There are over 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). 20 types affect the genital area and only a few are considered high risk and linked to cervical cancer. • The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents HPV types • 16 and 18 that are linked to 70% of cervical cancers. The vaccine also prevents HPV types 6 and 11 that are linked to 90% of genital warts. • Females up to 26 years can receive a free HPV vaccine from their general practitioner or gynecologist. The vaccine is known as “Gardasil”
