Did you know a pap smear is an important test that will keep you updated from cervical cancer signs? But most women think getting a pap test during periods is effective or not. If you are also one of them, then you are at the right place. This blog will help you to understand the importance of the pap test, its benefits, can you get a pap smear on your period, and what are the precautions that you must consider for getting a pap test. All things will be covered in detail. So, let’s get started.
What is a Pap Smear and How is it Beneficial?
Pap smear is a procedure that is followed by a professional healthcare provider. In this procedure, they get to know the cervix health and keep you updated if any issues have been found. With this, you can get better treatment and protect yourself from facing severe health issues like cervical cancer.
According to IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health), cervical cancer is number 14 out of 18 which causes women’s death. Therefore, you need to focus on it and get a regular pap test so that you can keep yourself healthy and enjoy every moment of your life.
Things that You Need to Know Before Scheduling a Pap Test
The following are the key points that you must consider when you have pap smear during menses.
Mentally Prepared
It is one of the most important factors that keep you confident. Therefore, you need to focus on it and be ready to face new challenges. With strong mental health, you can collaborate with your healthcare provider confidently and understand their instructions.
Patience to Face Something New
You must mentally prepare for the pap smear result. If a professional OB-GYN identifies issues at your cervix, you need to face it with a smiley face and get treatment. On the other hand, when you schedule a pap smear while on your period, you need to discuss with your healthcare provider so that the test may perform well by mutual understanding.
Don’t Hesitate to Communicate with OB-GYN
Communication is a key to getting better service. Therefore, you need to focus on it and discuss your healthcare provider confidently regarding the pap test. With this, you will get enough knowledge about this test and what are the precautions that you need to keep in mind to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
Blood Flow During Period
When you consider a pap test with period, you need to check your menstruation condition. A blood flow during a period can make you uncomfortable and the result is that the test may not perform well. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss with your healthcare provider for better suggestions.
Avoid Intercourse
When you have a plan to get a pap smear, you need to avoid intercourse. It may disturb your pap test result. For better suggestions, you should discuss with a professional OB-GYN so that you can get the best results of pap smear.
Why Do You Need to Get Pap Smear?
A pap smear is an important test that needs special attention from you so that your cervix stays healthy and you can protect yourself from facing cervical cancer. Therefore, you need to add it in your medical checkup routine. For making a medical history, you can get suggestions from your professional doctor so that you can follow up pap smear after said duration.
The following are the key points that will help you for better understanding with pap smear even when you are on your period.
Weak Immune System
Ignoring the pap smear may cause a weak immune system. In this way, your body may not resist infections properly and the result is that you will get sick easily. Further, the pap test will help you to keep yourself updated about cervical health.
Virus Can Passed from One Person to Another
The abnormal cells of the cervix may cause cervical cancer and these infected cells can transfer from one person to another. Therefore, a regular pap smear is necessary to stay healthy and fit. For getting a pap smear, you don’t need to worry even when you are on your period. Your healthcare provider will guide you properly in this regard.
Protect from HPV
With the regular pap smear, you can protect yourself from facing HPV infections. Therefore, you need to schedule a pap test with a professional healthcare provider to keep yourself healthy and live a life with peace of mind.
Is Pap Smear Hurt?
A pap smear not hurt you but you may feel uncomfortable when the speculum is inserted into your vagina to get a sample of cells. If you feel a pressure sensation or mild cramping, you can discuss it with your doctor.
Further, pap smear when menstruating may keep you uncomfortable when you are lying on the examination table. Therefore, let your doctor know about your period so that they gently clean your cervix for better results.
What is a Procedure for Pap Smear?
The procedure for a pap smear is not complex. You can easily understand it and prepare yourself for it so that you may not feel hesitation during a test and your healthcare provider can perform the test properly. So, let’s discuss the procedure that most doctors followed for pap smear.
Lie on Examination Table
When you have a pap test, you need to remove your waist clothes and lie on the examination table so that the doctor can easily access your vagina to perform the test.
Inserting Speculum
When you lie on the examination table, the doctor inserts a speculum into your vagina to keep vagina walls apart from each other. With this, the doctor performs tests professionally so that you can get the best results.
Brushing to Collect Sample
After inserting the speculum, doctors gently brush the cervix to collect cells so that they may get to know the cell’s condition. After collecting these samples, doctors keep them in a neat and clean container for laboratory purposes.
Get Test Results
After laboratory analysis, you will get a test report which properly describes the condition of cells that are present on your cervix. On behalf of this report, your doctor will entertain you accordingly.
Can You Have Sex After a Pap Test?
Well, having sex after a pap smear will be good or not like it depends upon your comfort. For better suggestions in this regard, you need to consult with a professional doctor so that you can enjoy your happy moments in a healthy environment.
Can You Reschedule Pap Smear?
Actually, pap smear based on your comfortability. If you are not mentally prepared for the pap test even when you are on your period, you can reschedule it. Due to the following reasons, you can reschedule pap smear during menses.
Too Much Cramps
If you have too much cramps when you are on your period, you can contact your doctor and share your condition. They will definitely entertain you in this regard and suggest effective options to get relief.
Unusual Bleeding
It is also one of the key reasons to reschedule your pap smear. Because with the unusual bleeding you may get pain and uncomfortability during a procedure. That’s why you need to discuss with your healthcare provider to reschedule pap smear.
What If You Have an Abnormal Pap Smear Results?
An abnormal pap smear results can drag you uncomfortability and stress but you need to stay strong and calm down yourself. At that time, your healthcare provider may suggest you for more tests so that they may get to know how much cells are damaged so that you can get proper treatment.
Every pap smear result may not identify the cervical cancer signs. You may have other skin issues such as yeast infection or herpes. So that’s why you need to stay calm and follow the doctor’s instructions. If you want to learn about yeast infection vs herpes, then this blog is for you.
Can You Get a Pap Smear after Pregnancy or Miscarriage?
Well, you can get a pap smear after pregnancy or miscarriage but consulting with a professional will be helpful in this regard. They will guide you properly so that you can get the best results. Therefore, making a decision by yourself, you must consult with a professional healthcare provider.
Advantages of Pap Smear
The following are the key advantages that you can get by pap smear.
Early Detection of Cervical Cancer Cells
With a pap smear, you can keep yourself updated about the cervix health. If any abnormal cells are present on your cervix, you can get treatment for cervical cancer.
More Successful Treatment
With a better understanding about abnormal cells, your doctor will give you the best treatment that you deserve. Therefore, you need to pay attention to it and follow up the pap test to stay healthy and fit.
Peace of Mind
With the pap smear, you may not only keep yourself updated about your cervix condition, but also get a peace of mind. With the pap test, you will get to know about abnormal cells in an early stage and can get treatment before it may turn into a severe problem.
Final Thoughts
Well, pap smear not only keeps you updated about your cervix health but also indicates the abnormal cells that may cause cervical cancer. Therefore, you need to pay attention to it and add on your medical checkup based on your doctor’s suggestions.
A random question which is raised in a woman’s mind: can you get a pap smear on your period? This guide will be helpful to get a better answer. So, if you want to get pap smear, then NovaMed is the best choice for you. The professional and experienced team will entertain you so that you can get the best results and can enjoy every moment of life.
