{"id":21493,"date":"2023-01-31T07:24:57","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T06:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=21493"},"modified":"2024-03-15T22:43:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T21:43:24","slug":"are-pap-smears-necessary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/are-pap-smears-necessary\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Pap Smears Necessary?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re all about being as proactive as possible when it comes to your reproductive health. Pap smears are one of the first steps most people take to learn about what\u2019s happening in their reproductive systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But like everything in life, medicine and healthcare evolves and changes, and we need to evaluate what we\u2019ve always done and see if that\u2019s still the best course of action. So what\u2019s the deal with pap smears? Why do we do them and do we need to be doing them? Time to find out!<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is a Pap Smear?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever had one, you probably don\u2019t need a reminder, but we like to cover all our bases here. If you\u2019re about to get your first pap smear, it\u2019s important to know <\/span>what to expect<\/span><\/a>. Either way, we can always use a refresher on what it is.<\/span><\/p>\n

A pap smear screens for abnormal cells in the cervix, especially those that may be <\/span>cancerous<\/span><\/a>, pre-cancerous, or indicative of <\/span>HPV<\/span><\/a>. Certain strains of HPV can potentially develop into cervical cancer, which is why pap smears are part of routine reproductive healthcare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pap smears are done by using a speculum to see up the vaginal canal, and a soft brush to collect cervical cells from the outside of your <\/span>cervix<\/span><\/a>. The standard recommendation is to get one every three years from the age of 21 to 30, then less often until the age of 65, unless you start to show signs of cervical cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are Pap Smears Necessary?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s pretty common for typically younger people to get a pap smear, only to get the dreaded phone call that their test showed irregular cervical cells. Then they\u2019re left with anxiety for the foreseeable future as they continue to get pap smears for the next two years until their results are either normal or progress. This leaves people feeling uncertain, yet nervous about their reproductive health but kind of stuck in this waiting game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another downside of pap smears is that they can be very triggering for people who experienced sexual trauma, abuse, or medical trauma. If this is you, know that you deserve to feel confident in the decisions you make around your reproductive health and safe with your providers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology<\/span><\/a> says that this is because their understanding of cervical cancer has changed over time. Cervical cancer can take many years (10 or more sometimes) to develop, so they\u2019ve expanded the amount of time between screenings. Pap smear results are often positive for HPV and irregular cervical cells in young people, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they will develop cervical cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to get tested for <\/span>STIs<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>communicate with new sexual partners<\/span><\/a> about any you may have. HPV however, is a tricky one, and actually stands for a group of more than 100 related viruses, versus one specific one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also incredibly common: Around <\/span>80%<\/span><\/a> of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. And of them, about <\/span>90%<\/span><\/a> of females with HPV will never show symptoms, and it will clear up on its own in about two years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because pap smears are typically done much less routinely than your standard STI test, you don\u2019t always know if you\u2019re carrying it, and thus transmitting it. Something to keep in mind!<\/span><\/p>\n \r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t