Cancer ? - Cervical Smears -

Cancer - Cervical Smears - Women's Health

All women at some point in their life will have to have a cervical
smear as a part of a health checkup. But do you know exactly what a
cervical smear is, and how it can affect, diagnose or treat women's
ailments? Read on for more information about this common procedure.

Women's Health: What is a Cervical Smear?
A cervical smear is a test used on women to tell if there are any
changes in the health of the cervix. This is helpful to diagnose the
early stages of cancer.

The cervix is located at the end of the uterus, and connects to the
top of the vagina. There is a central canal that connects the vagina
to the inside of the uterus, and it measures approximately 3cm square.

Women's Health: Why Have a Cervical Smear?
The main reason to have a cervical smear is to monitor the health of
the cervix, and to lower the number of women who contract cervical
cancer. The smear is targeted to detect early strains of potentially
cancerous cells. If caught in time, women's health may not suffer
terribly, and the growth of the cancer may not progress further.
However, a cervical smear is just a screening process; it won't detect
all forms of cancer, all of the time.

Women's Health: Who Needs a Cervical Smear?
Women who are sexually active, or who are 18 or older (whatever comes
first) should take their health in their own hands and have regular
cervical smears until the age of 70. A regular smear would be every
three years for most women, depending on their health and the results
of the last smear. Also, women who are not healthy should have annual
smears, such as those with HIV. Women who have had a hysterectomy who
have had abnormal pap smears in the past should get themselves checked
every year by a health practitioner; there is still a risk of

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