Cervical Smears (Preventing Cervical Cancer)

SCREENING FOR CERVICAL CANCER

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and curable of all cancers. Cervical cancer is characterised by the growth of abnormal cells. However, before the actual cancer develops, there are a number of changes in the cells in the cervix. These abnormal cells can be detected by doing a Pap smear test. Treatment of these abnormal cells can actually prevent cervical cancer.

What is a Pap Smear?
Pap smear, named after its inventor Dr. George Papanicolou, is a way of taking cells from the cervix for examination for changes under a microscope. Changes in the cells detected through the Pap smear allows for preventive action to be taken before the cancer can develop.

A Pap smear takes a couple of minutes to perform. The procedure is uncomfortable, but is not painful. The smear is sent to the Pathology Laboratory for examination.

The smear is best done a week or two after the end of the menstruation period. If you no longer have periods, you can have a Pap smear any time.

Currently, it is not considered necessary to continue screening beyond the age of 64, provided that a woman has had three consecutive negative smears and the most recent one was done no more than three years previously. If you are 65 years old and have not been screened before, you should have a smear. If you have had a hysterectomy and the cervix has been removed with the rest of the womb, you do not need to have any smears, provided no abnormality was found in the cervix.

What Does an Abnormal Pap Smear Mean?
Most Pap smear results indicate that the cervix is healthy and no abnormal cells have been found. Some smears will show abnormal cells. This does not necessarily mean that cancer is present. A number of minor abnormalities can return to normal without treatment. However, at present we do not have a way of finding out which cells will develop cancer. So, the abnormality needs to be treated or watched carefully. You will need to discuss the most appropriate follow-up with your doctor. This may include more frequent Pap smears for a time.

Persistent cell changes may be further investigated with a procedure called Colposcopy. In this procedure the cervix is examined through a microscope for closer inspection of the abnormal areas of the cervix and allows the taking of small amounts of tissue for further examination.

Cervical Smear Facilities at Aga Khan University Hospital
Cervical smear can be done at the following clinics:

Community Health Centre (CHC)
Consulting Clinic # 4 Obs/Gyn
Pathology Laboratory

Appointments can be made at the above clinics by calling at 4930051 extensions:

Community Health Centre(CHC) - ext. #1491
Consulting Clinic #4 - ext. # 1034/1035
Laboratory - ext. #1552

Results of the Smear
Results can be obtained within two weeks. You will be given an appointment after two weeks by the doctor who had taken the smears, to discuss the results with you. However, urgent results can be provided on a physician's request.

We hope this will provide you with all the necessary information. In case you have any problem, please feel free to contact us

Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi
P.O Box 3500, Stadium Road, Karachi-74800, Pakistan.
Telephone: 92-21-4864641, 4864646, 4864647