Know by yourself – Personalised information
Cervical cancer screening-
There is a calculator above this article to provide a personalised information for you, so that you will double sure about cervical screening recommendations. Just put your age from your dropdown. Your sex is automatically selected for ‘female’. Then press the get recommendation button. Now, whatever your are getting is specific for your age. If you need some more information you can read the article below.
It is a Cervical Cancer screening recommendation by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) & American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) (2012 recommendation).
Q&A
Q) I am female and below 21 year of age and I am sexually active. Should I do Cervical cancer screening?
A) No, even if sexually active, cervical cancer screening is not recommended for females below 21 year.
Q) I am a female of 24year age and I am not sexually active. Should I do Cervical cancer Screening?
A) Yes, definitely. Any female above 21years should do cervical cancer screening.
Q) What is a PAP test?
A) Cells are collected from surface of cervix with a small brush or spatula and those cells are examined under microscope for cervical cancer or cells that can be covert to cancer in near future.
Q) What is a HPV test in cervical cancer screening?
A) HPV tests look for Human Papilloma virus that can cause cervical cancer. This HPV testing is done from the cells taken for PAP test or may be taken separately.
Q) Do I feel pain during cervical cancer screening tests?
A) No definitely not. Because only the superficial cells from cervix are taken.
Q) Should I do a cervical cancer screening during my period days?
A) You can. But you should avoid this due to chance of contamination with blood.
Q) I have undergone hysterectomy for benign reasons and have no history of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Should I do cervical cancer screening?
A) You may discontinue screening. Talk to your doctor about this.
Q) I have undergone hysterectomy but have history of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Should I do cervical cancer screening?
A) Yes, you may do screening with annual pelvic examination. Talk to your doctor about this.
Q) I have diagnosed with CIN II or CIN III in past and has been treated for same. Should I stop cervical cancer screening at age 65?
A) No, you should do annual screening for at least 20 years.
Q) During my cervical cancer screening, I am HPV positive. Should I take treatment for this?
A) A positive HPV testing does not mean, you have cervical cancer. Usually, an HPV infection is self-limiting. Hence, we can wait and watch instead of immediate treatment.
Q) How to prevent a HPV infection?
A) High risk HPV infection can only be prevented through vaccine. Get HPV vaccine recommendation here.
Other referrences:
- https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/screening#:~:text=The%20human%20papillomavirus%20(HPV)%20test,untreated%E2%80%94turn%20into%20cervical%20cancer.
- https://www.acog.org/womens-health/infographics/cervical-cancer-screening#:~:text=Follow%20these%20Guidelines%3A&text=If%20you%20are%2021%20to,co%2Dtesting)%20every%205%20years
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