Cervical Screening Test
Have you ever had a Cervical Screening Test Melbourne or Pap smear? It’s an important test used to detect and prevent cervical cancer and other abnormalities of the cervix. If you haven’t had one yet, be sure to schedule one as soon as possible, as early detection is vital to preventing cancer from developing further and saving your life! While the test is common and simple, there are many facts that you might not know about it—find out here!
When Is It Done?
The cervical screening test, also known as a Pap smear, is done to check for abnormal changes in your cervix. Most women have a Cervical Screening Test in Melbourne every three years from age 20 to 29 and then continue to have them every five years from age 30 onwards. This time frame is a good guideline, but your doctor may change it based on your health history and whether you’ve been pregnant before. They may even recommend skipping an exam if you haven’t had sex or weren’t sexually active within six months of going through menopause.
What Tests Are Involved?
There are two tests involved in cervical screening: The Cervical Cytology Screen and The HPV DNA test. Both involve collecting samples from your cervix, which can be obtained using a swab, brush or pipette and sending them to a laboratory for analysis. While these samples can be collected during routine pap smears, it’s also possible to do so at home. For example, if you need to collect additional cells for analysis due to an abnormality detected on your last test.
Who Can Do This Test?
The cervical screening test is not only for women who are over 20 years old. If you are aged 18 to 20, you will need to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or gynecologist to get screened. Here’s why: The Pap smear typically administered during these screenings can detect cell changes in your cervix earlier than if you were older. It’s important to know that abnormal cell changes in your cervix may be treated if they are detected early enough.
What Happens After the Tests?
Many tests are carried out to check for cervical cancer, including a physical examination and tests of your cells, such as a Pap smear or a more advanced test called liquid-based cytology. In Australia, about 90% of women who get an abnormal result from these tests have either a colposcopy or cervical biopsy. The purpose of these tests is to allow doctors to remove any abnormal cells, which reduces your risk of developing cervical cancer later in life.
Final Take
Although cervical screening is usually painless, some women find it difficult to cope with it. However, cervical screening is an excellent method of detecting abnormal changes in women at risk of developing cancer of their cervix before any symptoms occur.
There are several reasons for having a a Cervical Screening Test Melbourne, including Prevention of cervical cancer, Protection against over-diagnosis (i.e., detecting cancers that would never become invasive), and Detection of subclinical disease. It is more accurate than self-screening because expert examiners will detect more abnormal lesions than by self-examination.
