Pap Smear

Papanikolaou test or Pap smear is a screening method gynecology, triggered by Georgios Papanikolaou, to discover the processes in the ectocervix premalignant and malignant, and infection in the endocervix and endometrium. Pap smear is used to detect cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus or HPV. According to estimates, in the UK Pap smears to prevent about 700 deaths per year. Women who are sexually active are advised to undergo a Pap smear once a year. Cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb) is a type of cancer most (after breast cancer) were found in women worldwide and is the leading cause of death in many developing countries.
Based on data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2002, the incidence of cervical cancer is estimated at about 16 per 100,000 women in Indonesia. Each year about 15,050 women diagnosed with cervical cancer Indonesia and 7566 women died from the disease. Cervical cancer is associated with high health burden for patients, families, and government so that cancer prevention is in need of special attention.

Cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb) until now not known for sure why. However, based on recent research, the HPV virus is one of the triggers. Infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of 99% of cases of cervical cancer (cervical). Of the several types of HPV, types 16 and 18 are the main cause of cervical cancer (cervical), which is about 70% of cases in the world.
HPV can infect a woman if her sexual partner was due to the virus repeatedly - sexual partners. In addition, women who have the habit of smoking is also prone to develop cervical cancer (cervical). Substances contained nicotine tobacco has a tendency affects the mucous membranes of the body, including the mucous membranes of the cervix (neck of the womb), making it vulnerable to cancer cells.

Cervical cancer (cervical) usually women of childbearing age, never had sex, frequently changing sexual partners, mating in the relatively young age (not yet 17 years old) and a lot of labor. In the case of cervical cancer (cervical), almost never occur in women who have never had sexual intercourse. However, women should routinely perform a pap smear once a year after sex, or three months after giving birth to detect the presence or absence of pre-cancer / dysplasia.

Dysplasia or pre-composed of three stages, namely mild, moderate and severe. From the stage of dysplasia into early-stage cancer, takes two years. To prove dysplasia after a pap smear and found abnormalities, then performed a biopsy, cancerous tissue is cut and taken for laboratory examination.
Regarding the symptoms of cervical cancer (cervical), the dysplasia stage to stage I, practically without complaint. A new step on stage 1-3b are complaints of patients, whereas in stage 4B cancer cells have spread to the brain and lungs. Cervical cancer (cervical), is a disease that many women in Indonesia diidap
Prevention of cervical cancer can be done with skrinning and vaccination program. In developed countries, cases of this type of cancer has begun to decline, thanks to early detection programs through a pap smear. HPV vaccine be given to girls aged 10 to 55 years by injection three times, ie at month zero, one, and six. From the research conducted, it is evident that the immune response to work two times higher in young women aged 10 to 14 years than those aged 15 to 25 years.

Your doctor or nurse insert a speculum into the vagina to take a sample of the patient's cervix. Pap smear is usually not done during menstruation. This procedure may cause a little pain, but it depends on the patient's anatomy, psychological factors, and others. Samples were then tested in the laboratory and the results obtained in about 3 weeks. A little bleeding, cramping, and others may occur afterwards.

The result:

• NEGATIVE: means the cells are not found dangerous ..!
• Dysplasia: find cells that show changes in the nature that can lead to malignancy, for it needs to be confirmed by examination BIOPSY.
• POSITIVE: Malignant cells are found. Biopsy should be performed to ensure the diagnosis.


Sources: Wikipedia.org