THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING A PAP SMEAR FOR THE HEALTH OF THE FEMALE AREA

Pap smear or pap test is a simple medical procedure to distinguish normal and abnormal cells in the cervix, uterus, and vagina. There are two types of Pap smear examinations, namely:

1.      Regular type where the cervical cells are smeared on glass objects, then examined under a microscope

2.      Liquid based type where the cervical epithelial cells are inserted into a certain liquid, then a smear is made which is then examined under a microscope

Pap smear is used for the diagnosis of malignancy of the cervix. In addition, pap smears are also used for:

1.      Follow up post treatment of cervical cancer, whether postoperative treatment, radiation, or chemotherapy

2.      Help diagnose inflammatory or infectious processes

3.      Hormonal cyto-examination

4.      Hormonal status and ovulation

5.      Maturity of pregnancy

6.      The threat of abortus

The American Cancer Society recommends:

1.      Pap smears are done periodically 3 years after a woman has had sexual intercourse, after the age of 21, or women under 20 years old who are sexually active

2.      Pap smears should be done annually periodically

3.      Women over the age of 70 years if the results of the Pap smear examination three times in a row are normal for the past 10 years, then it is better to stop the pap smear examination

4.      In patients who experience total hysterectomy with a history of pre  cancer d birth neck cancer, you should do a pap smear examination periodically

Complications of the pap smear procedure can be discomfort when the examination procedure is carried out, minor bleeding in the form of blood spots, and infection. But such complications are usually rare.