Smear Test

What is Smear Test?

A smear test, also called a Pap test, is a procedure used to test for cervical cancer in women.
A Pap smear test involves collecting cells from your cervix in the upper part of your vagina.
Detecting cervical cancer early with a Pap smear gives you a better chance of cure. A Pap smear can also detect changes in your cervical cells that suggest you may develop cancer in the future. Detecting these abnormal cells early with a Pap smear is the first step that can be taken to stop the possible development of cervical cancer.

Why is Smear Test Done?

Pap tests are used to screen for cervical cancer.
A Pap smear test is usually done along with a pelvic exam. In women older than 30, the Pap test may be combined with testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer. In some cases, an HPV test can be performed instead of a Pap smear.

Who Should Have a Smear Test?

You and your doctor can decide when it is time to start having a Pap test and how often you should have it.
In general, doctors recommend starting Pap tests starting at age 21.

Who Should Not Have Pap Smear Test?

In some cases, a woman and her doctor may decide to stop getting Pap tests, such as:
After total hysterectomy. You do not need to have a Pap test after surgical removal of the uterus, including the cervix.
If your hysterectomy was for a non-cancerous condition, such as uterine fibroids, you may want to discontinue routine Pap smear tests.
But if your hysterectomy is for a precancerous or cancerous condition of the cervix, your doctor may recommend that you continue with routine Pap testing.
Advanced age. Doctors generally agree that women should not have routine Pap tests starting at age 65 if they have previously tested negative for cervical cancer.

Smear Test Results

A Pap smear test can alert your doctor to the presence of suspicious cells that need further testing.

Normal smear results:
If only normal cervical cells were discovered during your Pap smear, you are said to have a negative result. You won't need any other treatments or tests until it's time for your next Pap smear and pelvic exam.

Abnormal smear results:
If abnormal or unusual cells were discovered during your Pap smear, you are said to have a positive result. A positive result does not mean you have cervical cancer. What a positive result means depends on the type of cells discovered in your test.
Some terms your doctor may use when interpreting your positive test result and further tests after a positive result:
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). Squamous cells are thin, flat and grow on the surface of a healthy cervix. In the case of ASCUS, the Pap smear reveals slightly abnormal squamous cells, but the changes do not clearly indicate that precancerous cells are present.
With the liquid-based test, your doctor can reanalyze the sample to check for the presence of viruses known to promote cancer development, such as some types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
If there is no high-risk virus, abnormal cells found in the test result are not a big concern. If there are viruses of concern, you will need further testing.