are pap smears done before birth
Before you get birth control pills, your doctor may want you to have a pelvic exam with a Pap test. Your doctor should get a complete medical history before giving you a prescription for birth control pills. But you usually don’t need a Pap test and pelvic exam, especially if you are a teen. A Pap smear done during pregnancy will be the same as any other; it involves your doctor using a thin brush or tiny spatula to collect a sampling of cells from your cervix, which are then sent to a lab for evaluation. The purpose of a Pap smear is to collect cells from your cervix, which is the lower end of your uterus. The cells collected in a Pap smear can detect if you have cervical cancer or suspicious cells that indicate you may develop cervical cancer. In most cases, cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV). A: For the same reasons you've probably had Pap smears before getting pregnant, it's important to continue getting them once you're expecting. The test looks for changes to cells in the cervix (the lower end of your uterus) that could lead to cervical cancer if left untreated. Shares 14. A Pap smear is a test used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix which indicate cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer. Pap smears do not diagnose cancer, but they detect 95% of cervical cancers at a stage when they cannot be seen with the naked eye. You should have pelvic exams and Pap tests based on your age and health history (see the Advice from Consumer Reports). But you don’t need them just to get a prescription for birth control pills. Before you get birth control pills, your doctor should always do a basic medical exam and: Check your blood pressure. However, there are other risk factors for developing cervical cancer, such as family history and smoking, so talk to your doctor if you have concerns. For effective cervical cancer screening, many organizations recommend an initial Pap smear at age 21. Discuss when to begin cervical cancer screening with your doctor. Pap Smear. A Pap smear is a test used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix which indicate cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer. Pap smears do not diagnose cancer, but they detect 95% of cervical cancers at a stage when they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Pap results are usually available within one to two weeks depending on the lab your doctor uses. If abnormal cells are found, your doctor will do a thorough exam of your cervix and may repeat the test in a few weeks. For most women, abnormal cells are no cause for alarm. 2 doctors agreed: No, but: You do not have to get a pap smear in order to get birth control. However it appropriate for a women age 21 to 65 to have pap smears every three years as long as they are normal. After a hysterectomy and/or after age 65 a women with a history of normal paps does not ever need another pap.
yes.