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Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit

Cancer - Cervical Cancer

Pap Tests! No Doctor or Nurse Practitioner?

Call to book a FREE Pap test with a female nurse practitioner:
613-283-2740 or 1-800-660-5853

For information on Cervical Cancer and HPV.

For current information on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) visit Cancer Care Ontario.



Pap Smear

  • The health professional uses a wooden spatula and brush to remove a few cells from the surface of your cervix.

  • The cells are then placed on a slide and sent to the laboratory for examination.

    Dr. George Papanicolaou, 1928




Purpose

  • To detect abnormal cells in the cervix.

  • Part of this examination includes pelvic and internal vaginal examination to detect size and placement of uterus, ovaries and any abnormalities (i.e., fibroids, cysts, masses)

  • Part of preventive health care.

  • May be done yearly - talk to your health care provider.




Who Should Have a Pap Smear?

  • Anyone who is sexually active.

  • Females who have many partners.

  • Females who are heavy smokers.

  • Anyone who has menstrual problems, e.g., unusual pain, abnormal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge.

  • Females on contraceptive or hormonal replacement therapy.

  • Daughters of D.E.S. (diethylstilbestrol) mothers.

  • Potential/actual history of Human papiloma virus, warts or herpes.

  • Females with past history of cervical cancer.




Frequency of Pap Smears

  • Determined by health care provider.

  • Once per year if on birth control and/or sexually active.

  • After three normal “Pap” tests (reports as satisfactory for evaluation) at one-year intervals, screening should be continued every two - three years until age 70.

  • Post hysterectomy for cancer of uterus: yearly for rest of life - Pap taken from vaginal vault.

  • More frequent test for high risk clients.




Client History

  • frequency and duration of menstrual cycle.

  • any spotting or bleeding between periods.

  • date of last menstrual period.

  • onset of menstruation.

  • any discomfort/bleeding after sex.

  • unusual pain or itching in genital area.

  • client or family medical problems.

  • present/past use of birth control and any problems.

  • present medication use.




Client Instructions Prior to Pap Smear

  • no food or drink restrictions.

  • client must be in middle of menstrual cycle or post menopausal.

  • no douching, no insertion of vaginal medication or tampons, no sexual intercourse for 24 (preferably 48) hours prior to Pap smear.


A vaginal speculum in place

vaginal speculum in place




Pap Results

  • Normal

  • Abnormal



Dysplasia

  • abnormal growth in the cells of the surface layer of the cervix.

  • cells do not mature in the proper way.

  • is not cancer.

  • health care provider will recommend another Pap smear every 3-6 months.

  • further investigation and/or treatment may be required.

  • women of all ages who are, or have ever been, sexually active should be screened.

  • after three normal “Pap” tests (reports as satisfactory for evaluation) at one-year intervals, screening should be continued every two years until age 70.

  • if there have been four normal “Pap” tests in the previous ten years, screening may be discontinued.

Note: These recommendations do not apply to those women who have has previous abnormal “Pap” tests


Cervical cancer mortality and screening in 
Ontario in the 90s - Profile by Age Group

cervical screening chart



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