Let's get intimate! Sing a Rap, for your Pap!

Let's get intimate!

Today we will discuss the nooks & crevices that even your significant other may not have explored..
Yes, I am talking about Cervical Cancer & Pap Smear.

Cervix is the lower most part of the uterus. It is seen by your Gynecologist from below (unlike uterus, tubes & Ovaries, which are inside the abdomen & can be seen only on Ultrasound).

Cervical cancer is very common in India (risk is increased in sexually active women, multiple partners, early & multiple pregnancies, low immunity).
(There is a Vaccine available for the virus that causes Cervical Cancer, more on it in another post).
The good news is that is can be caught in the very early stage itself! And as you are aware, earlier the diagnosis, better the prognosis!

What is a Pap Smear?

It is a simple, 2-minute test performed in the OPD itself which picks up this deadly disease. Oh yeah!
First, your gyno puts in a duck-bill shaped device called a speculum in your vagina & looks at your Cervix.
Then, he/she rubs a small Brush over the cervix which picks up microscopic cells and spreads them over a small glass slide.
The slide is sent to the laboratory where a pathologist examines it under a microscope (device which magnifies minuscle things so that they can be studied) & comments whether "All is Well" or early cancer changes have set in.

Q. Who?
A. All women above the age of 25.
It's ok if you're above 25 & have never had a pap before. You can start today. "जब जागो तब सवेरा", you know!

Q. When?
A. Any day of the month when you not having your menses.

Q. Is once enough or is it to be done regularly..?
A. Women with normal test reports should repeat Pap smear every 3 years, till the age of 65 years.
If a blood test called HPV-DNA is also along with the Pap, testing interval can be extended to 5 years.

So, now that you are armed with all the information that you need to protect yourself from this cancer,

Call your Gynec, Schedule your Pap & Beat cancer!
TODAY!

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