Are abnormal pap smears common during
pregnancy?
Let us get into the depth of it. The moment a woman touches the age of 21 or
within 3 years of becoming sexually active they are directed to be part of
routine pap tests. You cannot refer to them as diagnosis, but mere screening
tools where any form of abnormal cells are being detected in the cervix. If you
detect abnormal pap smear during earlypregnancy the better the chances of treatment.
If
you are worried or alarmed when you are told that you have an abnormal pap
smear then it is normal. It does indicate that you have infection or abnormal
cells in your cervix. Nowhere is it written that if you have abnormal cells
then you have cancer. What it does indicate that further rounds of testing may
be necessary to get into the problem. An abnormal pap smear could arise due to
inflammation or infection as well. Though the main cause of it is attributed to
HPV. The further round of testing may involve a biopsy or colposcopy. In the
former small tissue is being removed from the cervix, whereas in the latter with
the aid of a magnifying lens you look into the cervix. Then the doctor is going
to discuss the results with you.
The
chances of an abnormal pap smear are on the rarer side and it is considered to
be not that serious as well. Though HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer,
many women who have been part of treatment of HPV cells for abnormal cells have
not got cancer. The FDA in the year 2003 went on to approve a test that could
be done with a Pap smear test to determine if there is HPV virus. This is well before
any abnormal cells are being detected in the cervix. This screening is
suggested for women who are well above the age of 30 years as their chances of
contracting cancer increases all the more.
Sometimes
the sample may not be satisfactory due to recent sexual activity or the
constant use of vaginal douches as well. Whatever be the situation an abnormal
pap smear is going to need another abnormal pap smear in a short passage of
time.
Once
the treatment is over routine check-ups are necessary to figure out whether the
cervix has healed and all the abnormal cells have gone away. Early detection is
the key aspect to prevent any form of cancer occurring. Once the treatment is
over, women are going to be advised by their health care providers on the
duration when they are going to need the pap smears to be done again.
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