A Pap smear is an important medical screening that talks about the women’s reproductive health exclusively. This test works to determine the overall health of the cervix, which plays a pivotal role in pregnancy. The cervix contains some cells that need to be examined thoroughly. These cells can tell the healthcare experts whether a female is at risk of cervical cancer or not. You can find a Pap smear test near me to ensure your vital reproductive health. This test is usually performed during the pelvic examination. Know the important facts about this test below.

A Pap smear is important for women between 21 to 65 age

The healthcare experts have described clearly that this test is required for women falling between the age group of 21-65. Before 21, the risk for one to get cervical cancer at an extremely younger age is low. Similarly, a female above 65 is at a lower risk of cervical cancer too. In addition, this test is highly recommended for females who are sexually active than those who do not have sex often.

HPV causes cervical cancer

North Hills Pap smear results can show the cervical cells that are cancerous or precancerous. This can indicate that you must start diagnosis to recover healthily. However, the main cause of cancerous cervical cells is HPV. This is an infection that you can get from skin-to-skin contact during intercourse. It can occur during vaginal, anal, and even oral sex.

Preparation for Pap smear

It is needless to cite that this is an important test to determine the health of your cervix. So, you must prepare well for it before the scheduled date of the test. You can visit the urgent care center for a Pap smear test near me after consulting the physician. As a general instruction, you should not undergo this screening during menstruation. This could affect the accuracy of test results due to heavy bleeding. In addition, you must not have sex before the day of the test and must not wash your vagina with water and other liquids.

What do Pap smear results indicate?

A Pap smear test is usually an in-office procedure that is performed by a gynecologist. During the procedure, the doctor will extract cells from your cervix through the vagina. The cells will then be examined in the lab. North Hills Pap smear results can appear as normal or abnormal. A normal or negative result would indicate that your cervix does not have precancerous or cancerous cells. But abnormal or positive results may indicate an underlying infection and the appearance of precancerous or cancerous cells.

To sum up

These are some important facts that you must know about this test. If you truly want to rejoice in a healthy lifestyle, then you must undergo this test frequently. However, the frequency rate for testing depends on your age. It is better to consult your physician and seek for pap smear test near me. This test will help you to maintain a healthy reproductive system and early cervical cancer prevention.