If you’re a woman between the ages of 21 and 65, you might be aware that you will need to complete a Pap smear test every few years. This test determines whether you have any cancerous cells or Human papillomavirus (HPV) in your cervix or not. It is a routine appointment, so it will only take a few minutes to complete here at Aurora Innovative Health Center for Women in San Antonio, TX, and you will receive your results within a few weeks.
When you first sign up as a patient at our clinic, we will ask you whether you have recently taken such a test. If not, we will advise you to do so and book you in for your screening. It is crucial that you do so because the test can prevent you from developing a serious and long-term condition. Let’s have a closer look at what the Pap test is, how long it takes, and when to expect your results.
How Long Does It Take To Get Pap Smear Results?
It usually takes between 1 and 3 weeks to get the results of your test. In most cases, we will be able to let you know that you have a negative result, which means that everything is okay and no suspicious cells have been found. If we do encounter something to be concerned about, we will ask you back to the clinic for further testing.
How Long Does a Pap Smear Take?
We all lead busy lives, and while many women might be aware that having a regular test done is essential, they often put it off because of the time commitment. But fortunately, the appointment doesn’t take long, and you’ll only have to wait for a few weeks to receive your results. In fact, the Pap test is one of the standard appointments we offer, and we advise every woman to take part because of its simplicity and effectiveness.
The Test
The Pap test is performed at our clinic, so you don’t have to visit a hospital, and it will only take a few minutes to complete. After signing in and filling out the necessary paperwork, you will be left alone to undress and lie down in the exam chair with your knees bent. Your doctor will then come back into the room and insert an instrument, named the speculum, into your vagina.
The purpose of this is to separate the walls of your vagina, so the doctor will be able to see your cervix. They will use a spatula, which is a scraping device, to gather some cells from your cervix. Once they have done this, your examination is complete, and you can go home. Your cells will later be sent on to the laboratory, where they are analyzed for HPV or cervical cancer.
Your Results
Simply having a positive result doesn’t mean that you have cervical cancer, as there are several types of cells that can be identified during a Pap smear. For instance, some people have ASCUS, which means that the cells on the top of their cervix are atypical. This could indicate a problem, but further testing will be necessary to make sure. In many cases, it eventually turns out that the atypical cells are nothing to worry about.
Who Needs a Pap Smear?
Almost every woman will need a Pap test at some point in her life, and most people should have them on a regular basis. While this is true for everyone, there are certain women who might be at higher risk of cervical cancer than others. These patients will need to come see us more often, so we can monitor the situation and make sure nothing malignant is developing. Others, for example those who have had a hysterectomy, can stop having Pap tests.
Women Aged 21-65
If you are new to our clinic and within the 21-65 age range, we will most likely ask you to have a Pap test when you sign up to our services, unless you have recently had one somewhere else. Then, we will schedule them regularly, most likely every three years.
Experts have found that this is a good frequency because it allows most issues within your cervix to be found before they spiral out of control. That way, you have a much greater chance of being treated effectively and avoiding complications.
You Have an Existing Risk Factor
Although every woman can suffer from cervical cancer, this is more likely in people who have certain risk factors. You might be more at risk if you were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic form of the hormone estrogen, before birth. Similarly, women who smoke on a regular basis, have been infected with HIV, and those who have a weaker immune system due to previous chemotherapy or corticosteroid use are at greater risk.
If one of the above applies to you, you should mention this to your doctor because they might increase the frequency of your Pap test. This is also the case if precancerous cells have been found during a previous examination. Although you might not currently have a problem, it’s important to keep a close eye on any cells that are not behaving in a normal way.
You Haven’t Had a Hysterectomy
While this screening is important for almost everyone, there are reasons to reduce the frequency or stop testing altogether. The most common one is that you have had a total hysterectomy, which means that your uterus and cervix have been removed. If the reason for the procedure was a noncancerous condition, your doctor might recommend that you stop having the Pap test.
However, if you had precancerous cells and had your hysterectomy for that reason, it might be advisable to keep screening just in case. The best course of action is to be open and honest about your condition with your gynecologist and follow their advice.
How To Prepare
As discussed above, the Pap smear test is a routine screening, and you won’t have to stay at your doctor’s office for long. In fact, you can be in and out of our clinic within 15-30 minutes. Nevertheless, there are some things you should be aware of before you come in for treatment. To make sure the test is effective, you should avoid vaginal douching or using any spermicidal foams and vaginal medicines during the two days leading up to your screening.
These might wash away abnormal cells, so you will get a false negative result. Similarly, you will need to avoid intercourse for 48 hours, and you should avoid scheduling your test during your menstrual period. Your doctor can give you more information about these measures when you book your appointment with us.
After Your Test
Once you are done with your Pap test, you can get dressed and go home or back to work. Usually, there aren’t any side effects, and you shouldn’t feel pain after the screening. Your doctor will place the cells they collected from you onto a glass slide or into a special container with a liquid that preserves them. Then, they are sent to a lab, where they are placed under a microscope and analyzed for any indication of cancer or other abnormalities.
You can ask your doctor when you should expect the results to arrive, but they should be available in under one month. If you receive a negative result, you won’t have to do anything else, but if it is positive, you are likely to undergo further testing.
Make Sure You’re in Great Health Now
Having a regular Pap smear test done is crucial for women between the ages of 21 and 65, since they are most at risk of developing cervical cancer. Because this is such a simple test and it only takes 1-3 weeks for your results to come back, there is no reason not to have it done every few years. That way, you will know for sure that you are in great health and not at risk of developing a life-threatening disease.
To get started, you can get in touch with us at the clinic and book an appointment. We will speak to you about the optimal frequency of testing, which could be around once every few years. After your initial screening, we can automatically let you know when it is time again. Call or email us today at Aurora Innovative Health Center for Women in San Antonio, TX to sign up for our ObGyn services.