PAP Smear Test
Last Updated on 18th January 2022Table of contents
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What is the Pap Smear Test used for?
A pap smear is used to detect abnormalities in cervical cells that could lead to cancer.Catching it early provides you the best chance of beating it when it comes to cancer. If you don’t, early detection of cell alterations can help you avoid cancer. A Pap smear should be done regularly for women between 21 and 65. Your overall health determines the frequency with which you do so and whether or not you’ve ever had an abnormal Pap smear.
What is included in the Pap Smear Test?
A Pap Smear Test’s main goal is to detect cellular abnormalities in the cervix that could be caused by HPV.
Cervical cancer cells can be detected early with a Pap smear, allowing therapy to begin before cancer spreads and becomes a significant problem. It is also feasible to test for HPV using a Pap smear sample.HPV can be contracted during sex with either males or women. Practice intercourse with a condom or other barrier device to reduce your risk of catching the virus. All sexually active women are at risk of developing HPV and should have a Pap smear every three years at the very least. Other sexually transmitted infections are not detected by this test (STIs). It can sometimes detect cell development that signals the presence of other malignancies, but it shouldn’t be used for that purpose.
Procedure for Pap Smear Test
The test is performed at the office or clinic of your doctor. It takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Your feet will be firmly in stirrups as you recline on a table. Your doctor will spread your legs and put a metal or plastic tool (speculum) into your vaginal canal. They’ll enlarge the vaginal walls by opening them. They will be able to see your cervix as a result of this. Your doctor will collect a sample of cells from your cervix with a swab. They’ll put them in a tiny jar with a liquid substance and send them to a lab for analysis. The Pap test is painless; however, you may feel a slight pinch or pressure.
How to prepare for a Pap Smear Test?
A Pap smear can be scheduled as part of your annual gynaecological exam or a separate appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may want to reschedule your Pap smear if you’ll be menstruating on the day of the test, as the results may be less accurate. Avoid sexual activity, douching, or the use of spermicidal products the day before your test because these could affect your results. In most circumstances, having a Pap smear within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy is safe. The test may become more painful after that. To improve the accuracy of your results, you should wait until 12 weeks after giving birth. It’s vital to keep cool and take deep breaths during Pap smears since they go more smoothly if your body is relaxed.
Things to consider after the Pap Smear Test is complete.
A woman and her doctor may decide to stop Pap testing in specific circumstances, such as:
- Following a complete hysterectomy. Ask your doctor if you need to have Pap smears after a total hysterectomy, which involves the surgical removal of the uterus, including the cervix.
- If your hysterectomy was for a noncancerous issue like uterine fibroids, you might be eligible to stop getting Pap smears.
- However, if your hysterectomy was performed to treat a precancerous or cancerous cervix condition, your doctor may advise that you continue to have regular Pap tests.
- Getting older. If previous tests for cervical cancer have been negative, doctors generally agree that women can consider ceasing routine Pap testing at 65.
- Talk to your doctor about your options, and together you can figure out what’s best for you based on your risk factors. If you have several sexual partners, your doctor may advise you to continue Pap testing.
*What types of infection can Pap Smear Test detect?
Cervical cancer is detected with a Pap smear. A pelvic exam is frequently performed in conjunction with a Pap smear. The Pap test may be paired with a test for human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer, in women over 30. The HPV test may be used instead of a Pap smear in some instances. You and your doctor can decide when you should start Pap testing and how frequently you should have it. Doctors recommend starting Pap testing at the age of 21.
How much does a Pap Smear Test cost?*
City | Test Price Starting from |
Pap Smear Test Cost in Delhi | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Gurugram / Gurgaon | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Noida | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Faridabad | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Ghaziabad | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Bangalore / Bengaluru | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Chennai | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Hyderabad | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Navi-Mumbai | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Mumbai | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Thane | ₹ 240.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Mysore | ₹ 680.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Chandigarh | ₹ 700.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Puducherry | ₹ 792.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Visakhapatnam-Vizag | ₹ 836.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Ahmedabad | ₹ 1232.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Kolkata | ₹ 1232.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Indore | ₹ 1232.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Pune | ₹ 1232.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Amritsar | ₹ 1232.0 |
PAP Smear Test Cost in Coimbatore | ₹ 1232.0 |
*Disclaimer: The value varies based on location, time, and your preferred lab partner
How long does it take to get the results for the Pap Smear Test?
You can expect to get the results for the pap smear test within 24 to 48 hours after the sample is collected. However, in certain cases, depending on the location, medical advice, and preferred lab partner, it may take longer.
What do abnormal Pap Smear Test test results indicate?
The cell modifications can be classified in the following ways:
- Low-grade lesion: The likelihood of a low-grade lesion developing to malignancy is very low.
- A high-grade lesion with several ineffectively aberrant or cancerous cells will likely have a high chance of turning malignant sooner rather than later.
- Atypical glandular cells: Abnormal cells in the endocervix will need to be tested further.
- Squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma: Cancer is a possibility based on the type of atypical cell. More testing is required.
Disclaimer: Please consult with your doctor to interpret the test reports.
Is Pap smear a definitive test?
Pap tests are quite precise. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality are reduced by at least 80% with regular Pap screenings. The source you can trust. It can be inconvenient, but the discomfort can help safeguard your health in the long run.
How to read the Pap smear report?
Pap smear – Normal
If your test results are normal, no abnormal cells have been found. Negative findings are occasionally used interchangeably with normal outcomes. If your Pap smear findings are normal, you won’t need another one for three years.
Pap smear- Abnormal
If the test findings are abnormal, it does not necessarily indicate that you have cancer. It simply implies that your cervix has aberrant cells, some of which may be precancerous. Abnormal cells exist on numerous levels:
- Atypia
- Mild
- Moderate
- severe dysplasia (severe dysplasia)
- in situ carcinoma
The presence of milder aberrant cells is more common than severely abnormal cells. Depending on the findings of the tests, your doctor may suggest:
- Increasing the number of Pap smears you have
- Using a procedure called a colposcopy to have a better look at your cervical tissue
Your doctor will use light and magnification during a colposcopy exam to observe vaginal and cervical tissues. In some situations, they may perform a biopsy to obtain a sample of your cervical tissue.
Why book a Pap Smear Test?
A Pap smear is a test for abnormal cervical cells that can lead to cancer. HPV, a virus that can induce cell alterations that can lead to cancer, is sometimes tested on the cells obtained from a Pap smear. Cervical cancer screening tests include Pap smears as well as HPV testing. Cervical cancer screening has been demonstrated to significantly lower the number of new cases of the disease and deaths from it.
Are there any risks involved with Pap smear?
A Pap test is a rapid, painless, and non-invasive screening test for cervical cancer. However, the Pap smear can sometimes produce false-negative results, meaning that the test report shows no abnormality when abnormal cells are present. A false-negative report can be caused by several circumstances, listed below.
- A tiny number of cancerous or diseased cells
- The cervical cells were sampled ineffectively.
- There are some unidentified inflammatory blood cells present.
Cervical cancer develops over a lengthy period of time. As a result, it’s likely that aberrant or cancerous cells will go undiscovered. If the findings of the Pap test are uncertain, the doctor may recommend that you have another test to confirm the diagnosis.
The following are some of the Pap Smear Test’s adverse effects and problems.
- After a Pap test, you may experience vaginal bleeding or blood spots. Bleeding that is excessive or heavy is a particular cause for concern.
- Chances of infection if the instrument is not sterilized.
What can affect the results of a Pap smear?
Hysterectomy can cause the stoppage of the need for a pap smear test
Ask your doctor if you need to have Pap smears after a total hysterectomy, which involves the surgical removal of the uterus, including the cervix. If your hysterectomy was for a noncancerous issue like uterine fibroids, you might be eligible to stop getting Pap smears.
However, if your hysterectomy was performed to treat a precancerous or cancerous condition of the cervix, your doctor may advise that you continue to have regular Pap tests.
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Frequently Asked Questions | FAQs
Does MFine provide the interpretation for the results along with the reports?
Yes, MFine provides the interpretation for the result along with the reports. You can also avail a free medical consultation with a doctor to understand your reports accurately. The doctor will also advise and prescribe medicines, if required, based on the results.
How can I download my Pap Smear Test test report?
- Login to MFine
- Go to your profile
- Click on Attachment and Reports
- Click on Lab Report
- Download the report
Q. Are there any discount offers running on Pap Smear Tests?
Usually, you can avail of up to a 50% discount on Pap Smear Test through MFine. However, the discount and test price may vary based on lab partner and location.
When should a woman stop getting her pap smear done?
If the woman has no history of precancerous diseases or cervical cancer, she should cease receiving Pap smears. In addition, once a woman reaches the age of 65 or older, she can opt out of the test after consulting with her doctor. Doctors may also recommend that Pap tests be discontinued when a woman has a hysterectomy for a non-cancerous tumour, such as fibroids.
Should old people get their pap smears done?
If previous tests for cervical cancer have been negative, doctors generally agree that women can consider ceasing routine Pap testing at the age of 65. Talk to your doctor about your options, and together you can figure out what’s best for you based on your risk factors. If you have several sexual partners, your doctor may advise you to continue Pap testing.
How often should a woman get a pap smear test?
Age | Pap smear frequency |
<21 years old, | Not needed |
21-29 | After every 3 years or as suggested by doctors |
30-65 | Every 3 years or every 5 years with an HPV test |
65 and older | Not required anymore |
Can cervical cancer be cured?
Cervical cancer that has progressed can be difficult to treat. It’s conceivable that cancer will not be cured. If this is the case, your therapy will focus on limiting cancer and its symptoms while also assisting you in living longer.
Can HPV be detected by a pap smear test?
A Pap Smear Test’s main goal is to detect cellular abnormalities in the cervix that could be caused by HPV. Cervical cancer cells can be detected early with a Pap smear, allowing therapy to begin before cancer spreads and becomes a significant problem. It is also feasible to test for HPV using a Pap smear sample.
What should you don’t do before a pap smear test?
The following things should not be done before a pap smear test-;
- Do not engage in sexual activity or use lubricants.
- Sprays and powders should not be used around the vaginal area.
- Tampons, medicines, creams, and suppositories should not be inserted into the vaginal canal.
- Avoid rinsing the vaginal area with water, vinegar, or any other liquid (douche).