Why You shouldn't Avoid your Smear Test
AVOIDING YOUR SMEAR TEST? WHY YOU SHOULDN'T
We've all heard the results of smear tests can be mistaken. Should we using that as an excuse to avoid the tests?
Why Do We Have Smear Tests?
The smear test is a method of screening that detects pre-cancerous changes in a woman's cervix (the neck of the womb). A smear test can pick up abnormal changes in cervical cells, which are usually easy to treat if they are caught at an early stage, but it is not a test for cancer itself. It can also find signs of some hidden infections such as HPV, which is a form of wart virus that's been linked to cancer of the cervix.
Screening is one of the best defences against cervical cancer and can prevent about 75 per cent of cancer cases in women who attend regularly.
Who Should have the Test?
As a result of research that evaluated the optimal frequency for cervical screening, women are now invited for their first test at 25. They're then invited every three years until the age of 49, and every five years from 50 to 64. From 65 only those who've had recent abnormal tests are offered another test.
Under the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, all women between the ages of 25 and 65 are regularly invited for a smear test. The system is automated, so as long as you're registered with a GP you should receive a letter asking you to make an appointment.
What Happens During the Test?
The best time to have the test is roughly two weeks after the first day of your period.
The doctor or nurse will insert an instrument called a speculum into the vagina to allow them to see the cervix. A spatula is then wiped or scraped over the surface of the cervix to remove some cells, which are then transferred to a glass slide. These are sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope.
The doctor or nurse may also do an internal examination to check for any problems.
Getting The Results
You should receive the result of your smear test in writing within six weeks. The result will be either normal (negative) or abnormal. A small proportion of tests cannot be completed because of a lack of visible cells on the slide. In such cases, you'll be invited for a repeat test.
An abnormal test doesn't necessarily mean cancer has been found or that it is likely to develop. The laboratory has simply identified some changes in the cells that require further investigation. In many cases, these are just minor abnormalities that would disappear without treatment. However, a few will progress to cancer, which is why further investigation is warranted.
Abnormal cells are scaled from borderline normal ('not quite right') through mildly abnormal, severely abnormal to invasive cancer. Depending upon the degree of abnormality, women may be asked to have a repeat smear in six or 12 months, or may be referred for a further test of the cervix known as a colposcopy.
Yes there has been some adverse publicity about labs who've got results wrong. But the vast majority of tests are accurate and can be life-saving.
Useful Links
BBC website
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