A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women. Thus, detecting cervical cancer early with a Pap smear gives you a greater chance at a cure. Here, Dr. Veena Aurangabadwala, Gynaecologist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur briefs you what it is all about.
 
The Papinocolou smear, popularly known as the 'Pap smear' was invented by a Greek physiologist Georgios Papanicolaou, who first sampled and smeared the vaginal fluid of his longtime girlfriend every day to study abnormal changes in the cervical cytology. He, later on, conducted these tests on his friends and was able to detect cervical cancer in one of them even before any symptoms.
 
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a very slowly progressing cancer, and very rarely gives any early symptoms, such as white discharge, foul-smelling vaginal discharge or bleeding after intercourse. It cannot be identified by any imaging technique in the precancerous or early precancerous stage. This has made cervical cancer one of the most common cancers among Indian women, with very poor survival and high mortality rate, as most of these cases are detected at the advanced stage.
 
How Pap smear can be helpful in detecting cervical cancer
Pap smear is an economical and easy test which can be done with a pelvic examination in the outpatient department or doctor’s clinic. Hence, it is the method used to screen and detect cervical cancer in women. In this test, the cervix is viewed through a speculum with the patient in the dorsal position. Cells are scraped from the cervix and examined under a microscope to check for disease or other problems.

Types of Pap smear

There are two types of Pap smear based on the technology used – Conventional Pap smear and the Liquid-based cytology (Thin prep /SurePath). The liquid-based cytology is the preferred technique of use. Thus, it is more accurate and is better in predicting early precancerous changes.
 
When is it recommended?
Pap smear is recommended every 3 years for every sexually active woman from 21 to 65 years of age. Women aged 30 and older can consider Pap testing every five years if the rocedure is combined with testing for HPV (Human Papilloma Virus DNA). Women are considered to be at ‘high risk’ of cervical cancer, if they have a weakened immune system due to HIV infection, chemotherapy or long term steroid use, being on immunosuppressive medications due to organ transplant, previously diagnosed with cervical cancer or Pap smear showing precancerous cells, or have a history of smoking or using birth control pills for many years, or those with multiple sexual partners and should undergo more frequent Pap smears.