A Test you Don't Need to Cram For
  Contributed by: Ebele Nwonwu, Pharm.D.  Candidate
                        UMKC School of Pharmacy

A Pap test is an important health routine that women need to get in the habit of doing. These tests can help detect any abnormal cell growth on the cervix. Early detection of abnormal cell growth is important for prevention of cervical cancer or treatment if cancer is detected. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is usually associated with the risk of developing cervical cancer.

Who should have the test done?
It is recommended that women who are over the age of 18 should get the Pap test done. It is also important for women who are sexually active to have the test done regardless of their age. This is because the HPV virus is transmitted by sexual intercourse and so if one is sexually active they increase their risk of contraction thereby increasing risks for development of cervical cancer.

What is being detected on a Pap test?
The Pap test, which is also known as a Pap smear, is done in order to detect any abnormal cell changes on the cervix. A sample of cells is taken from the cervix using a cervical brush which is then smeared on a slide and sent to the lab for examination. The results are reported back as either normal or abnormal. Reports of abnormal cells do not always mean that they are cancerous. A patient may have to go for further tests (known as a colposcopy) to determine if the cells are cancerous.

Sometimes abnormal cell changes in the cervix clear on their own without any treatment. Usually cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells spread deeper into the cervix or other tissues without detection. Therefore early detection of any abnormalities is key.

How often should a Pap test be done?
A woman should talk with her primary care physician or gynecologist to determine how often they should get the tests done. However, general guidelines suggest that women get a Pap test annually. If a patient has 3 consecutive normal tests then it would be acceptable to decrease the number of times of testing to every 3 years. The justification behind this being that cervical cancer develops very slowly and so three years is not too long to wait. Women between the ages of 65 to 75 and have had at least three consecutive normal tests and no abnormal tests in the last 10 years can decide not to have a Pap test. Also women who have had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) do not need to have a Pap test unless the removal was cancer related.

When should this test be done?
A woman should not have this test done when she is menstruating. Usually the test is done 10 to 20 days after the first day of the menstrual cycle. It is also recommended that a patient avoid douching, medicines or spermicidal agents at least two days before a

test as these might hide abnormal cells.

Where can these Pap tests be done?
A Pap test is a simple, quick and painless procedure that can be done in a doctor's office, clinic or a hospital. Most tests are done in women's health clinic and can be performed by doctors, nurse practitioners or specially trained healthcare providers.

Why should a Pap test be done?
As mentioned earlier, Pap tests can detect any abnormalities of cells on the cervix. Since these abnormalities can sometimes lead to cervical cancer, it is important to detect them early before they become cancerous or to catch cancer before it spreads further into other tissues. Early detected abnormal cells can be treated before they become cancerous or before a cancer spreads.

For more information visit the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.