Preventive examination, also known as Pap test, is a gynecological exam indicated for sexually active women and aims to evaluate the cervix, by searching for signs indicating HPV infection, which is the virus responsible for cervical cancer. or other microorganisms that can be sexually transmitted.
Preventive is a simple, quick and painless examination and is recommended to be done annually, or according to the advice of the gynecologist, for women up to age 65.
- Preventive examination is indicated to investigate changes in the uterus that may result in complications for women.
- Mainly by:.
In addition, the preventive may be performed in order to assess the presence of Naboth cysts, which are small nodules that can form due to the accumulation of fluid released by the glands present in the cervix.
Preventive examination is a quick and simple examination, which is done in the gynecologist’s office and does not hurt, however the woman may experience a slight discomfort or feeling of pressure in the uterus during the exam, however this sensation disappears as soon as the gynecologist removes the medical device and the spatula or brush used during the exam.
To perform the test, it is important that the woman is not on her period and has not used vaginal creams, medications or contraceptives at least 2 days before the test, in addition to having no sex or having vaginal showers, as these factors may interfere with the test result.
In the gynecologist’s office, the person is placed in a gynecological position and a medical device is used in the vaginal canal used to visualize the cervix. Soon after, your doctor uses a spatula or brush to take a small sample of cells from your cervix, which is sent to the lab for analysis.
After collection, the woman can normally resume her normal activities and the result is published approximately 7 days after the exam. In the review report, in addition to what has been reported, in some cases it is also possible for your doctor to indicate when a re-examination should be performed. Learn how to understand the results of the preventive exam.
Preventive screening is recommended for women who have already started sex and it is recommended to do so until age 65, and it is recommended to do so annually. However, if there are negative results for 2 consecutive years, the gynecologist may indicate that the preventative should be performed every 3 years. However, in cases where changes in the cervix, mainly related to HPV infection, are observed, it is recommended that the test be performed every six months in order to monitor the progress of the change.
For women age 64 and older, it is recommended that the test be done at an interval of 1 to 3 years between tests depending on what is observed during the test. In addition, pregnant women can also perform the preventative, as there is no risk to the baby or pregnancy commitment, and this is important because if changes are identified, the most appropriate treatment can be introduced to avoid complications for the baby. .
Despite the recommendation to conduct a preventive examination for women who have already started sex life, the test may also be performed by women who have never had penetrative sex, using special equipment during the exam.