Cervical smear

Cervical Smear

A cervical smear, also known as a Pap test or Pap smear, is a medical procedure used primarily to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal (transformation zone) of the female reproductive system.

History

The test was named after the prominent Greek doctor George Papanicolaou, who developed the method in the early 20th century. The Pap smear has been widely recognized as a reliable and effective method of cervical screening since the 1950s.

Procedure

During a cervical smear, cells are collected from the cervix, which is the lower, narrow end of the uterus located at the top of the vagina. The collected cells are examined under a microscope to look for abnormalities that may indicate the presence of pre-cancerous or cancerous cells.

Effectiveness and Limitations

While the Pap smear is an effective method for early detection of cervical cancer, it is not infallible. False negatives can occur, and the test does not provide information on other gynecological cancers such as ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer.

See Also

• Cervical cancer
• HPV vaccine
• Colposcopy
• Biopsy