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Cervical smear tests
Although cervical cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer it is almost totally preventable or treatable. Despite this around 1500 women in the UK die of it each year. Many of these women have not had regular cervical smear tests. Women who have a cervical smear test every three to five years are unlikely to develop cancer of the cervix because the test can identify women who are at risk of the disease before it starts.
Causes:-
Almost all women carry some risk of developing cervical cancer. The development of abnormal cervical cells probably results from several factors coming together at one time, with something triggering off the unhealthy growth. The same combination of factors is unlikely to happen again. Even if it did, the body’s defence mechanism may be able to deal successfully with the condition itself without medical help. The risk of developing cervical cancer is increased if certain risk factors are present:
- Early age of first sexual intercourse
- Cigarette smoking
- Stress
- A poor diet lacking in vitamins
- Use of contraceptives that do not act as barriers
- A large number of sexual partners or having a partner who has had many other partners
- The presence of certain specific types of human papillomaviruses (HPV)
- Infection with the AIDS virus (HIV)
Inadequate
Sometimes the report will indicate that the sample was unsatisfactory with not enough cells for analysis due to the way the smear was taken or handled or treated in the laboratory. This may happen for a variety of reasons:
the cervix cells on the slide may have been obscured by blood or inflammation;
there may not have been enough cervix cells on the sample to give an accurate assessment;
the smear may not have been properly prepared; or A the slide may have been broken.
If any of these problems occur, you will be asked to have another cervical smear test a few weeks later.
Inflammation/Infection
Quite often, a cervical smear test will show that the cells of the cervix are slightly irritated, which may be due to an infection. You may need further tests and treatment for the infection.
An abnormal cervical smear test result
Currently in the UK, 1-2% of women aged 25-35 years will have an abnormal smear. It is most common within this age group, being extremely rare before the age of 15 years and falling off to 0.5-1% after 40 years.
With minor abnormalities, more regular cervical smear tests may be all that is needed for a period of time. For many women, minor changes will return to normal.
By having more frequent cervical smear tests, as recommended by your doctor, it is possible to monitor and check the cervix and that the changes have not progressed any further.
If you need further tests you will be referred to a hospital where you will be seen by a gynaecologist who is specially trained in diagnosing and treating abnormalities of the cervix. The technique used is known as Colposcopy.
Having an abnormal smear does not mean that you have cancer, or are going to develop it in the future.
Treatment
- Laser treatment
Laser treatment takes only minutes and very efficiently removes the area of abnormal surface tissue on the cervix by focusing a very intense beam of light which vaporises it. As it can be directed very accurately, it doesn’t disturb the rest of the cervix. The treated area takes a few weeks to heal with new healthy tissues growing over the area. To try to numb possible pain, a local anaesthetic is used on the cervix before the treatment starts.
- Cone Biopsy
The cone biopsy operation has been the standard treatment for abnormal cervical cells for many years. It is a minor operation to remove the part of the cervix with the abnormal area of surface tissue (roughly in a cone shape 1cm.deep). Since colposcopy has been available to locate exactly where the abnormal cells are, the operation can be accurately directed.
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