TEST-PAP FAQ

This test should be performed by all women from the time they start having sexual contacts. It should be done at least once a year and for some women more frequently depending on the cytologist’s evaluation.

This examination is performed in order to detect early stages of cancer and the fully developed cancer. Early stages are called dysplasias that can be cured. The start as low grade, evolve to mild, and finally to high grade. High grade is the fully developed cancer. The next stage is the infiltrating cancer that expands to the cervical walls.

The most suitable day of the menstrual cycle to perform Pap test is a week after the end of the menstruation. Then the genital organs have calmed from the menstruation and the uterus is ready for Pap Test. Moreover no sexual contact should be had within the last 2 days.

During Pap-test cells are collected from the vagina, the cervix and the endometrium. The woman lies down at the gynecological position and the cytologist using a vaginal speculum, initially examines macroscopically the cervix. Then with a plastic or wooden spatula and a brush (cervical brush) he collects cells from the surface of cervix and the endometrium. The cells are swabbed on slides, sprayed with a fixative and then are stained with Papanicolaou stain at the lab. The cytologist then examines the slide under microscope and describes the different precancerous lesions at the cervix, if any.

Of course it can! An example is the diagnosis of cervical and vaginal inflammations that are the most common and are not related to cancer. INFLAMMATIONS DO NOT CAUSE CANCER.

• Negative –normal cervix-next Pap test in 1 year
• Vaginosis / Cervicitis –Test negative for malignancy – there is just an infection- culture of vaginal smear to detect the infection causative
• Low grade dysplasia – atypic squamous cells, undetermined importance – suspicion of HPV infection-colposcopy
• Mild dysplasia- HPV infection – colposcopy, identification of the virus (DNA-HPV)
• High grade dysplasia – extended cellular dysplasia – further examination – colposcopy and treatment – not cancer but could evolve if proper treatment is not provided
• Cancer-rarely to young women-immediate and effective treatment