Cervical screening
The procedure of identifying and eliminating abnormal tissue or cells before cervical cancer develops in the cervix is called cervical screening.
What is cervical screening?
Smear tests for cervical screening determine the condition of your cervix. The cervix is the gap between your vagina and womb. It’s a test to help prevent cancer, not a test for cancer.
Everyone who has a cervix and is between the ages of 25 and 64 should undertake this.
The doctor will take a few cells from your cervix during the screening appointment. By examining the sample, the doctor will identify the strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can alter the cells in your cervix. These HPV strains are known as “high-risk” strains.
How cervical screening aids in preventing a cancer
Cervical screening is one of the most acceptable ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
Cervical screening reviews a selection of cells from your cervix for particular types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
This HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix.
When screening yields a positive result for one of these kinds of HPV, the sample of cells is examined for aberrant alterations. Unusual cells have the potential to develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022