When Should Women Have Their First Pap Smear and Why?

When Should Women Have Their First Pap Smear and Why?

When it comes to reproductive health, some procedures are only necessary after you’ve become sexually active. However, certain risk factors can require you to have a Pap smear regardless of your sexual history. That begs the question: When should women have their first Pap smear, and why is it important that they get it?

At Innovative Care Medicine, in Corona, California, Pap smears are a routine procedure. Dr. Ohri believes your first Pap test should be fully discussed in advance and handled compassionately. He and our staff want you to be comfortable during the entire experience.

The importance of Pap smears

Pap tests are primarily intended to screen for cervical cancer. Dr. Ohri can check you for the presence of cancerous or precancerous cells by taking a small sample from your cervix.

During the procedure, you remove your clothing below the waist and lie on your back on a cushioned table. You’re covered with a small sheet while you place your feet in stirrups, and a lubricated speculum is inserted into your vagina to hold open your vulva and provide access to your cervix. Dr. Ohri collects the cervical cell sample with a swab, and that’s it.

You might feel some pressure while the sample is being collected, and some women experience minor cramping or a bit of vaginal blood. If pain or bleeding continues longer than a day or two, call our office. While Pap smears can be somewhat awkward or uncomfortable, they’re the simplest and most accurate way to screen for cervical cancer.

When should I have my first Pap smear?

You should begin receiving routine Pap tests when you are 21 and then repeat the test every three years after turning 21. Women who haven’t had sexual intercourse (vaginal sex) after age 21 can talk to their doctor about when a Pap smear is necessary for them.

Certain factors can put you at risk of cervical cancer regardless of your sexual activity, so it’s a good idea to have the test done anyway. Being sexually active is a concern for women because of human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer, so talk to your doctor about starting Pap tests when you become sexually active, even if it’s before age 21.

In case of an abnormal Pap smear

Pap smears check the health and status of your cervix. Your doctor can order more tests if any abnormal cells are found. An abnormal test result doesn’t necessarily mean the cells are precancerous.

Some Pap smears can also include testing for HPV, which increases cancer risks. However, HPV infections don’t mean you have cancer, and many women can clear an HPV infection on their own. There is also an HPV vaccine which protects against many strains of the virus.

To book your first Pap smear, contact us online or call 951-595-4588 for an appointment.

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What age and how often?

A Pap smear or Pap test involves a doctor taking a small sample of cells from a person’s cervix using a brush or spatula-like instrument to look for changes in the cervix’s cells.

A doctor may use a Pap smear to look for cellular changes that can result from cancer, precancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), inflammation, or an infection. A doctor may perform a Pap smear during a routine examination.

Keep reading for more information about Pap smears, including at what age and how frequently a person should get them.

Share on PinterestPeople between 21 and 65 should consider having regular Pap smears.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all women between the ages of 21 and 65 should get regular Pap smears tests.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) do not recommend Pap smears for people under the age of 21. They also do not recommend that people over 65 get a Pap smear except under certain circumstances, such as abnormal results or increased risk factors for cancer.

The CDC further breaks down the testing times based on age. The following are the recommended testing schedules based on a person’s age:

Ages 21–29

A person should start getting Pap tests at the age of 21. If the result is normal, a doctor will likely suggest waiting 3 years until the next test.

Ages 30–65

A person may discuss with their doctor if they should have a Pap test only, or a combined Pap and HPV test.

If a person has a pap test only, and the results are normal, a doctor may suggest waiting 3 years until the next one.

If a person had a combined test, and both results are normal, a doctor may suggest waiting 5 years until the next screening test.

Age 65 plus

A doctor may suggest that screening is no longer necessary for a person over 65 if:

• they have had normal screening test results for many years
• they had a total hysterectomy, and a doctor removed their cervix

However, the National Cancer Institute recommend that people over 65 have Pap smear tests if they have any risk factors for developing cervical cancer.

Risk factors include:

• being immunosuppressed
• having previous treatment for a precancerous cervical lesion or cervical cancer
• living with HIV
• being exposed to diethylstilbestrol before birth

In general, there is nothing that a person needs to do to prepare for the examination.

If a person is menstruating at the time of their scheduled appointment, they should check with their clinician whether they should come in. In most cases, however, the Pap smear can go ahead.

Doctors also recommend that a person avoids the following before to a Pap smear:

• having sex
• douching the vagina
• using tampons or vaginal lubrication
• vaginal creams, suppositories, or medications
• using birth control foam, cream, or jelly

Most people need regular Pap smears from the age of 21. However, some people may wonder whether they need a Pap smear if they:

Have had a hysterectomy

Some people who have had a hysterectomy will still need a Pap smear. This will depend on the person’s health history and the type of hysterectomy they had.

Are not sexually active

Pap smears test for the presence of abnormal cell growth. Though this can be the result of a sexually transmitted disease (STI), such as HPV, a person may still develop cervical cancer without having sex.

Are pregnant

A person’s doctor may recommend a Pap smear during pregnancy. However, a person should talk to their doctor about their situation and whether they need one.

Have gone through menopause

Women should still get Pap smears after menopause up until the age of 65. Continuing Pap smears after age 65 will depend on whether a person has risk factors for cervical cancer.

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A healthcare provider typically performs a Pap smear during a routine care visit. During the visit, a doctor will ask the person several health questions and perform an examination.

During the Pap smear, the person will typically lie on their back with their legs separated. A healthcare provider will then insert a speculum into the vagina to keep the vagina walls open.

With the speculum in place, the healthcare provider will take a sample of cervical cells using a brush or spatula. They will place the sample inside a container filled with a transport medium, which is a fluid that will preserve the sample.

The healthcare provider will then remove the speculum. During the procedure, the person may feel slight discomfort, pain, or pressure. A person can reduce the discomfort by urinating before the test.

The examination does not require any recovery time, and the person can leave immediately following the Pap smear.

The healthcare provider will send the sample to a lab for examination. The test results can take about 1–3 weeks to come back, depending on the lab.

A person will usually get their results in a letter or through an online portal. A doctor can go over the results with the person to explain what they mean and discuss the next course of action, if necessary.

The results can be as follows:

• Normal: The Pap smear showed normal cells, so no further action is required until the next routine exam.
• Abnormal: The cells show abnormalities or growth, which does not necessarily mean a person has cancer. A doctor will likely order additional tests, such as a colposcopy, to check for certain conditions. The doctor may recommend another Pap smear immediately or in 6 months–1 year.
• Unclear: The doctor cannot determine if the results are normal or abnormal. They may do additional tests or have the person come back in 6 months–1 year for another Pap smear.

Pap smears are not always accurate. In some cases, a Pap smear may return false normal or false abnormal test results. However, regular Pap smears are generally effective in helping to screen for cervical cancer.

Pap smears do not check for STIs. A doctor may test for an STI if the person has symptoms that indicate an STI may be present.

A person may not experience any symptoms that would suggest that they needed to have a Pap smear. However, the person may experience symptoms of an STI or other infections such as:

• abnormal discharge
• pain during sexual intercourse or urination
• lesions or warts
• abdominal pain

If these occur, a person should see their doctor as soon as possible. During the examination, a doctor may recommend a person get a Pap smear as well.

In addition to Pap smears, people should get regular health examinations. These can include routine doctor visits, mammograms, and gynecological appointments.

Sexually active people should get regular screening for STIs. People who have more than one sexual partner are at an increased risk of contracting an STI.

People should also get regular testing for HPV. A doctor can perform an HPV test at the same time as a Pap smear. The Office of Women’s Health recommend that people over 30 have an HPV test every 5 years.

If the test shows abnormal results, a doctor may order a colposcopy. A doctor may also request a biopsy to test for cancer cells.

Women between the ages of 21 and 65 should get Pap smears every 3–5 years.

Pap smears check for the presence of abnormal cells and can indicate whether the person either has or could develop cervical cancer.

Most people receive normal results from the Pap smears. Should the test results come back abnormal, however, a person will likely require additional testing.

When is it necessary to take a smear for microflora?

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• When do I need to take a smear for microflora?

Flora smear is a simple and quite informative analysis, which is taken by a doctor in women and men, both for the purpose of routine diagnosis and in case of certain symptoms.

Purpose of the study:

• to determine the state of microflora;
• identify sexually transmitted infections and their pathogen;
• determine the degree of the inflammatory process;
• assess the degree of cleanliness of the vagina, which is mandatory before further diagnostic tests and gynecological operations, etc.

Explanation of flora smear analysis can tell about the presence of genital infections, inflammation, hormonal disorders in the body. In addition, such smears are also taken during preventive examinations.

How to prepare?

Women should take a smear for flora no earlier than 3 days after the end of menstruation. The period from the 10th to the 20th day of the cycle is considered optimal.

The test result will be as reliable as possible if the following rules are followed:

• stop taking antibiotics and antifungal drugs within 14 days;
• for 2 days, stop the introduction of any vaginal forms of preparations – solutions, suppositories, tablets, tampons, ointments, creams.

After receiving the results of the tests, it is sometimes very difficult to understand the numbers and letters, so we recommend making an appointment with a gynecologist or urologist or by phone. in Kirov (8332) 711-100.

Light Diagnostic and Treatment Centers are unique centers that conduct various types of research using the latest and high-precision world-class technologies. Experienced and highly qualified specialists of the central clinical diagnostic laboratory “Light” provide the results of the examination as soon as possible. You will receive reliable diagnostic data that will become the basis of effective treatment !

Diagnostic and treatment centers “Light”
8 (8332) 711-100, 255-100
https://center-light.ru/

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Swab preparation

A smear is a method of taking biological material, which is subsequently subjected to microscopic evaluation. With the help of a smear, the doctor can identify possible risk factors, the preclinical stage of the disease, or establish an objective diagnosis. However, a laboratory study of a biomaterial will solve these problems only if the results obtained are correct. And for this, it is important to properly prepare for the smear test in order to reduce the likelihood of error.

The rules for preparing for a laboratory smear analysis depend on the area from which the material for microscopic examination is taken. If your doctor has ordered you to take a smear, carefully read the recommendations for the preparatory stage. Their observance is the key to reliable results.

Preparation for taking all types of scrapings and smears can be adjusted by the attending physician. If the study is carried out in a planned manner, it is necessary to adhere to the general rules of preparation.

Preparation for taking a gynecological smear

Recommendations for women:

• Choose the right time for your examination. You should not come to the test on menstrual days, as well as 5 days or less before it starts. The optimal time for examination is after 5 days from the first day of menstruation and the absence of spotting.
• Observe sexual rest. Vaginal sex should be avoided for 2-3 days.
• Do not perform vaginal procedures. Within 2-3 days, it is worth stopping the use of therapeutic and prophylactic agents that are introduced into the vagina (this applies to vaginal tablets, balls, douching, vaginal contraceptives).
• Stop systemic medications. On average, for 1 week before the smear, women are not recommended to take pills, capsules and other medicines. Before canceling, you need to consult your doctor!
• Remember ultrasound and colposcopy. It is recommended to take a smear before the ultrasound, or wait 2-3 days after the ultrasound scan, because. the gel used may distort the results of the study. After a colposcopy, it should also take 2-3 days before you go for analysis.
• Postpone intimate hygiene for a while. Do not take a hygienic shower before taking a smear. The maximum that is allowed is to wash the genitals from the outside (no more).
• Do not empty your bladder. Avoid urinating for 2 hours before taking the smear, so do not drink a lot of fluids the day before, especially coffee, which is diuretic.

Preparation for taking a urological smear

Rules for men:

• Refrain from intimacy. Sexual rest should be observed within 2-3 days.
• Don’t wash yourself. On the day of the examination, the penis should not be washed with soap. Hygiene procedures must be performed the night before.
• Refrain from urinating. Do not empty your bladder for 2 hours before sampling.
• Stop taking your drugs. If possible, do not take drugs for 5-7 days. However, before canceling, consultation of the prescribing specialist is required

Preparing for nasal and oropharyngeal swabs

Follow simple rules:

• Do not eat before the test. It is recommended to take a smear on an empty stomach or 2-3 hours after a meal.
• Refrain from using topical medicines. Nose and throat sprays, inhalers and drops should not be used before analysis (2-3 hours before biomaterial sampling).
• Note other “NOTs”. Do not drink liquids, brush your teeth, gargle your throat or mouth, smoke or chew gum for 2-3 hours before the test.

Biomaterial sampling is recommended before the start of antimicrobial treatment.

Preparation for taking biomaterial from the ear

There are no special preparation rules. A smear can be taken at any time. However, it is important to consider that the results are influenced by the use of antimicrobials. Therefore, the smear is carried out before the start of antibacterial or antifungal treatment. To assess the effectiveness of therapy, a second analysis is carried out 2 weeks after the last dose of the drug.

Preparation for taking a scraping from the conjunctiva

Biomaterial sampling is carried out before washing.