Do you wonder what a pap is and how it is performed? You are in the right place. This post will discuss all you should learn regarding pap smear at urgent care. Health is wealth, as you know, including your reproductive health. If you want to avoid any underlying reproductive health issues, you should undergo a pap smear test. Regardless of your age as a woman, you should experience this test because it will help you detect any uterine and cervical abnormalities earlier. After they are caught, it will be easier to treat them. Keep reading this post to learn more regarding pap smear at urgent care clinics.
What are Pap Smears?
Pap smears are tests conducted by doctors when they want to screen for cervical cancer. This is a lifesaving tool used by these doctors. These tests help in catching cancer cells before they become cancerous. Pap smears are combined with HPV tests to help detect viruses that might result in cervical cancer or any other issue.
Pap smear at urgent care clinics will also help detect other issues like inflammation or infection. This test can be done alongside other pelvic exams for the best results.
Why Take a Pap Smear Test?
Women over 30 years should take the HPV test alongside a pap smear. Typically, HPV is sexually transmitted and causes cervical cancer. You and your doctor will decide when you frequent you should take these tests. Doctors will always encourage you to take a pap smear test once you are 21 years old. The test should be performed after 2 to 3 years, and for those women who are 30 years and more, they should come for the tests after 3 to 5 years.
- You will frequently need to go for the test if you have a higher chance of getting cervical cancer. These risks typically are;
- Women who have HIV
- If the last test has shown the presence of precancerous cells.
- Suppose you were exposed to DES before birth.
- If your immune system is low because of chemotherapy, organ transplant, or prolonged corticosteroid use.
Benefits of Undergoing a Pap Smear Test
Taking a pap smear test at urgent care clinics is beneficial to women. It helps you understand what is happening in your cervical area and the whole reproductive system. The fundamental reason why going for pap smear tests is critical is because it enables you to know if there are cancerous cells in your cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. If the doctor discovers that you have cancer cells in your system during the tests, they will treat them before they become cancerous and cause cervical cancer.
These tests will also help you find and remove other dangerous viruses that might affect your reproductive system. These tests are essential because they provide necessary details regarding your reproductive health. They also help in detecting infections that might cause lifelong ailments.
The Best Candidate for Pap Smear
If you are doubtful if you are an ideal candidate for these tests, you do not need to freak out because we are here to help. We will let you know whether or not you are an ideal candidate for these tests and the required age. Most doctors advise that you take a pap smear test once you are 21 years old. This age is recommended because, at this time, many women will have a well-developed cervix. Urgent care doctors will examine the cells well. after your first test, and you will need to come back after 2 to 3 years. If you are younger than 21 years, you cannot opt for this treatment. If you have a high chance of getting cervical cancer, you can opt for this test.
The doctor would encourage you to keep taking this test if your cervix was affected by a previous health issue. Suppose you are still a virgin. You can opt for this test. This will not affect you even though you have low chances of abnormal cervical cells. After 65 years, you can now stop taking these tests. It is safe to say that your reproductive health is clean, especially if you regularly go for the tests.
The test will not harm you if you have had a hysterectomy. Your uterus is completely removed from your body and cervical tissues. If you have had this procedure, getting cervical cancer is low.
Final Thought
This article contains all you need to learn before opting for a pap smear test at urgent care. After the tests are conducted and the report from the doctor comes, the information will be sent to the doctor. The doctor will then call you to explain what the outcome means. If the product is positive, there is the presence of abnormal cells, and if it is normal or negative, it shows that you do not have any precancerous cells growing in your body.
