private gynaecologist

What is a Pap Smear test?

The Pap Smear test is conducted when there are chances of a woman carrying cervical cancer or chances of cells in the cervix that may turn into cancer. Many women prefer to visit a private gynecologist in London, as the tests are quite efficient and comfortable in private clinics.

The procedure of the test is quite simple. Cells are collected from the cervix on a slide, which are then sent to the laboratory for further examination. In case of any abnormal changes in the cells, further examination will be suggested by the doctor. The test was named after the Dr. Papanicolaou, in 1928.

Effectiveness of a Pap Smear test:

The doctors often suggest women to undergo regular Pap Smears, every two years, as cervical cancer has become very popular these days, due to the increasing number of cervical cancer patients. You may also consult a private gynecologist in London, to know more about the test and the intervals at which these can be conducted on you.
At times, in unfortunate circumstances, the test might not give desired results due to the blood and mucus on the slide. However, in such circumstances, the doctors might suggest you to undergo another Pap Smear for accurate results.

Problems detected by a Pap Smear Test:

According to the McIndoe Centre For Gynecologic Oncology, the Pap Smear tests do not detect cervical cancer, but they are designed in a way that helps to check for any cervical dysplasia, disorders or precancerous changes in the cervix. In simple terms, these tests help to check for any abnormalities in the cells of the cervix. Due to this early examination of cell behavior, it makes it easy to prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer.

Who should undergo the Pap Smear test?

The test can be conducted on women above 18 years of age, every two years. This needs to be done, despite no sexual activity. According to the medical science and the journals of the McIndoe Centre For Gynecologic Oncology, it can be stated that the most common typeof cancer takes about 10 years to develop. Thus, a gap of 2 years is a pretty comfortable period for the test to be conducted on the age group of women above 18 or 20 years of age.

When can a regular Pap Smear test be stopped?

If you are in the age group of 70 years or over, and have had two normal Pap Smear tests consecutively, then