Gynecology > Cancer Prevention: Pap Smear & Human Papillomvirus Immunization
How Important Is Getting A Pap Smear?
A Pap smear is an important part of your overall health that
detects changes in the cells of the cervix usually before they become serious.
The cervix is covered with a thin layer of cells, which periodically shed and
become abnormal. Abnormal cells, or "cervical dysplasia" go through
several stages of change before cervical cancer appears, and usually this takes
a number of years.
It is important that you see your doctor each year for
a pelvic exam and Pap smear. Depending on your medical history, your doctor may
advise you to have a Pap test done more often. If the lab reports any abnormal
findings, the doctor will arrange for further test (a repeat Pap smear, colposcopy,
cryotherapy, or LEEP). The treatment will depend on the findings.
HPV Testing
Woman under age 30 -
HPV testing is not necessariley done routinely in women under age 30, although HPV infections are very common
among young women. However, in the under-30 age group, HPV infections usually don't stay
active for very long, since their immune systems are very strong. As a result, cervical
cancer is relatively rare in young women
Woman over age 30 -
Any woman 30 years of age or older can benefit from the added peace
of mind offered by routine HPV testing. The major women's health and cancer associations - the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Cancer Society (ACS) and American Society
for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) - agree that routine screening for HPV, combined with a Pap test,
may begin at age 30. As women grow older, HPV infections become less common, but the
occurrence of cervical cancer increases. That's why it is recommended that women 30 and
older be routinely tested for infection with high-risk types of HPV. If both your PAP smear and HPV test return
negative then you may not need another PAP smear for two to three years — but an annual pelvic exam is still strongly recommended.
HPV Vaccine
There is a vaccine available to help protect against certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) that can lead to abnormal and pre-cancerous cervical, vaginal, and vulvar lesions. However the vaccination may not fully protect everyone who gets the vaccine, and should not substitute for routine cervical cancer screening.The Gardasil vaccine is against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 which cause 70% of all cervical cancer and 90% of genital warts. To complete the immunization, three shots are required, The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all recommend this vaccination for girls and women between 9 and 26 years of age.
To learn more about the HPV vaccine, please visit these websites:
Gardasil® and Center for Disease and Protection.