Hello Hermina Friends, Pap smear is a procedure to detect cervical cancer (cervix) in women. A Pap smear can also find abnormal cells (precancerous cells) in the cervix that can develop into cancer.
A Pap smear is performed by taking a sample of cells in the cervix. After that, the cell sample will be examined in the laboratory to find out whether the sample contains precancerous cells or cancer cells. Pap smears can also be used to detect infection or inflammation of the cervix.
Preparation before a Pap Smear
The pap smear procedure is only short. However, you must prepare yourself and check yourself at the right time.
Here are some things you should pay attention to before having a pap smear:
Avoid having a pap smear during menstruation
Avoid sexual intercourse two to three days before the pap smear procedure because it will affect the results
Avoid chemical products in the form of jellies, foams, or creams that function to prevent pregnancy (spermicides).
If you have recently given birth, wait at least 12 weeks before having a pap smear to increase the accuracy of the test results
Calm yourself before and during the test so that the procedure goes smoothly
When is the Right Time to Have a Pap Smear?
The right time for a pap test is when you are not menstruating and before pregnancy enters the 25th week. If you do the test during menstruation, the results may not be accurate. Generally, the pap smear procedure does not cause pain, because no wounds/tissue are taken.
Samples are only taken using a "cytobrush" or small brush so there is minimal pain.
The complaints that are felt are generally just discomfort during the examination. There are no special conditions that make it difficult to carry out this examination. There are only 3 activities that you should not do before taking the test, namely:
Sexual intercourse 2 days before the test
Inserting any object into the vagina without exception, this also includes lubricants and cleaning fluids including water (cleaning the outside is allowed)
The test time is less than 3 days after menstruation
Friends of Hermina. Do a Pap smear examination at Hermina Mekarsari Hospital for optimal results with a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist to follow up on your Pap smear results.
Reference
Arrivillaga M, Bermúdez PC, et al,. Women's critical experiences with the pap smear for the development of cervical cancer screening devices. Heliyon. 2023. (https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(23)01496-2). Accessed November 28, 2024.
Dasgupta S. The efficiency of cervical pap and comparison of conventional pap smear and liquid-based cytology: a review. Cureus. 2023. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10698710/). Accessed November 28, 2024.
Dr. Erliana Fani, Sp.OG (Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology) Hermina Mekarsari Hospital