Vaginal smear

Vaginal Smear is a diagnostic procedure used primarily in gynecology to assess the health of a woman's vagina and cervix. It is also known as a Pap smear or Papanicolaou test, named after the Greek doctor George Papanicolaou who developed the test.

Procedure

The vaginal smear procedure involves collecting cells from the cervix and vagina using a small brush or spatula. The collected cells are then spread on a glass slide and stained for examination under a microscope. This test is used to detect changes in the cells that may indicate cervical cancer or precancerous conditions.

Indications

A vaginal smear is recommended for all women over the age of 21, or earlier if they are sexually active. It is an essential part of a woman's routine health check-up. The test is also indicated in cases of abnormal vaginal bleeding, unexplained pelvic pain, or unusual vaginal discharge.

Interpretation

The results of a vaginal smear can be classified as normal or abnormal. Normal results indicate that the cells appear healthy and there are no signs of cancer or precancerous conditions. Abnormal results may indicate an infection, inflammation, HPV infection, or the presence of abnormal cells that could be precancerous or cancerous.

Limitations

While a vaginal smear is a valuable tool in detecting cervical cancer, it is not infallible. False negatives can occur, meaning that the test may not detect all cases of cervical cancer. Additionally, the test does not provide information about other gynecological cancers such as ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer.

See Also

• Cervical Cancer
• Pap Smear
• Gynecology
• Women's Health

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