Cervical examination is usually done primarily by performing a test known as a cervical smear, which is simple and painless and is important for all women, especially those of childbearing potential. This test should be done annually to identify changes in the cervix and prevent cancer.
In cases where cervical smears indicate changes in the woman’s cervix, these in most cases are not cancer, but must be diagnosed and treated in advance. In these cases, your doctor should prescribe other more specific cervical exams, such as a colposcopy or cervical biopsy.
- The cervical examination is performed by performing a cytopathological examination also known as a vaginal smear.
- Where a small sample of vaginal discharge and cervical cells is taken.
- Using a kind of cotton swab or spatula.
- The doctor then sends the sample taken to the lab and the test results are published within a few days.
This test is a quick procedure that doesn’t cause pain, just a slight discomfort. After the test, no symptoms are expected and no special care is required, however, if you experience discomfort in the pelvic area after the test or if you bleed for more than a day, you should consult your doctor.
During pregnancy, this test may also be done according to the gynecologist’s instructions, which should be done carefully, which can lead to small bleeding.
The cervical exam is used to
The Pap test may give a negative or positive result, indicating whether there are changes in the woman’s uterine wall or not. When the test result is negative, it indicates that there are no changes in the lining of the woman’s uterus, so there is no evidence of cancer.
On the other hand, when the pap test results are positive, it indicates that there are changes in the woman’s uterine wall, and in these cases the doctor will recommend more specific tests, such as colposcopy, to identify and treat the problem. That.
Colposcopy is performed whenever the Pap test is positive and indicates changes in the cervix. During this exam, your doctor applies a dye solution to your uterus and watches it using a device called a colposcope, which has lighting and magnifying glass in the first place, functioning as a kind of magnifying glass.
When colposcopy indicates changes in the lining of your uterus, your doctor will then order a histopathological examination of your cervix, which consists of a biopsy of your cervix, where a small procedure is performed to collect a small sample of your uterus, which is then tested by your doctor. This test is only done in cases of severe suspicion of changes in the woman’s cervix.