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Pap Smears Save Lives
Detecting Cervical Cancer
There is a high rate of cervical cancer in east Texas. If you are living in this area and have not had a pap smear in the last year, it could be time to make an appointment. Cancer of the cervix is treatable if it is detected early. Detection of cervical cancer through regular pap smears saves lives.
When to Get a Pap Smear
It is generally accepted that women should have a yearly pap smear from the time that they start having sex or from the age of eighteen. Tests should be conducted yearly and in some cases, more often. Your doctor will tell you what frequency is best for you. The test is looking for signs of cancer. If you are tested regularly, you should be able to catch cancer in its early stages. Your east Texas health clinic is a good place to start.
Cervical Cancer: The Risks
There are certain things that will place you more at risk of developing cancer of the cervix. Risk factors that are generally agreed upon include smoking, having sex from an early age, having a large number of sexual partners, having an STD, having a partner whom is infected with an STD, giving birth to children when you have HPV, or using birth control pills when you have HPV. Steps that you can take to prevent cancer of the cervix include using latex condoms, delaying sex beyond the age of twenty, limiting the number of your sexual partners, and not smoking. If you are in a high risk group for cancer of the cervix, your doctor may recommend that you be tested more frequently than once a year.
A Positive Pap Smear
What it Means
A pap smear may be positive for a number of reasons. Inflammation or irritation caused by an infection of the cervix can cause a positive test result, as can HPV, herpes, yeast infections, and other types of infection. Early signs of cancer, serious signs of cancer, and advanced cancer will also cause a positive result. If you test positive, do not panic. There are treatment options and your doctor at your "east Texas health clinic" will be able to explain them to you.
What Can be Done
The first thing that your health professional would need to do following a positive test is to determine precisely what is responsible for it. Your doctor may elect to perform another pap smear or take a biopsy for further testing. After that, your doctor will have a clear idea of what is wrong and be able to decide on a course of treatment for you to follow. A positive result on your pap smear does not mean that you have cancer and even if you do have cancer, if it is in the early stages it should be treatable.
Where to Get Your Pap Smear
A "pap smear" is a relatively simple test though it can be uncomfortable. It is not a pleasant experience but it is important to remember the dramatic impact that a pap smear has made for many women around the world. Pap smears have led to a significant reduction in the number of deaths attributed to cervical cancer around the world. If you are living in east Texas and you feel that you need a pap smear, you can always contact Countryside Clinic.
