A woman’s reproductive system is incredibly strong and capable of handling the pressures of pregnancy. But it is also a complex system that can be affected by many painful illnesses and infections.
Common gynecological issues can affect your daily routine, sex life, and even your ability to have children. Some cancers, like cervical cancer, can also be deadly. However, many of these issues are preventable with regular visits to a gynecologist.
The importance of getting an annual pelvic exam, pap test, and breast exam cannot be exaggerated. In this article, we will focus on pap testing, and some of the common gynecological issues like abnormal bleeding, endometriosis, and yeast infection.
If you are searching online for a «pap smear near me», all you need to do is find your way to the nearest VNA clinic. We are a trusted, non-profit organization committed to providing high-quality, low-cost primary health care to underserved communities. For more information, call us at (630) 892-4355.
What You Should Know About Pap Smear Tests
Cervical cancer is a type of women’s cancer that starts in the cervix – the narrow lower ending of your uterus. Cervical cancer in its early stages does not show any symptoms. This makes it particularly dangerous, as it can become harder to treat by the time you detect cancer in the cervix.
The cancer is caused by an infection of the human papillomavirus or HPV, a very common virus that spreads through sexual intercourse. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, after breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Nearly 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are detected each year, and 4,000 women die annually from the disease. If caught early, cervical cancer is relatively easy to treat and you have a very good chance of survival.
A pap smear is a simple test that can detect the early signs of cervical cancer. In a pap test, a doctor will collect samples of cells from your cervix and get them looked at in a lab for abnormal cervical cells – a sign of cancer. It is the main step in cervical cancer screening and diagnosis.
Cervical Cancer Screening – Who Should Get a Pap Test and When?
In the past, women were asked to get an annual pap test once they reached the age of 21. But now, the cervical cancer screening procedure and guidelines have changed because our knowledge about the disease has improved.
Certain risk factors of developing cervical cancer increase as you grow older. As a result, pap test guidelines for women are different based on their age. These are the latest cervical cancer screening guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
- Between ages 21 to 29: Get a pap smear done once every three years. After 25, you should also consider HPV testing, especially if you are sexually active.
- Between ages 30 to 65: Get a pap test and HPV test once every 5 years, or a pap test every 3 years.
- After age 65: Stop getting pap tests if previous tests have not shown any abnormal cells.
Some women are considered to be in a high-risk category for cervical cancer. Risk factors include a family history of cervical cancer, HIV infection, and total hysterectomy. Women in high-risk groups will require more frequent pap smears.
What Happens During a Pap Test?
A pap smear is a simple outpatient procedure that only takes a few minutes. During the pap smear test, the doctor or nurse practitioner will first ask you to undress from the waist down and lie down on your back on an exam table for your pelvic exam.
They will then insert an instrument called a speculum to spread your vaginal walls apart, showing the cervix. Using a small cone-shaped brush and a spatula, the doctor will collect samples of cells from the cervix. You will only feel a slight pressure from the speculum. The sample collection part does not hurt at all.
What Happens After the Pap Test?
After the pap test, you are free to go back to your daily routine. The samples are sealed in a special container and sent to the labs to check for the presence of cancer.
You can get two possible results from a pap smear test – the simple one is a normal result – you don’t have cancer or HPV. You can now wait 3 years before taking the next pap test. Abnormal pap smears can mean one of three things:
- You have some abnormal cervical cells that look like cancer, but they may be harmless.
- The abnormal cervical cells are actually precancerous cells, meaning you may get cervical cancer in the future.
- The screening test confirmed you actually have cancerous cells in the cervical cell samples.
In situations 1 and 2, you will need further testing to verify if everything is safe. If you test positive for cancer, you may be referred to a specialist for further treatment.
Other Common Gynecological Problems Women Experience
In addition to the risk of cervical cancer, there are numerous other gynecological issues millions of women face each year. Between the ages of 10 and 65, a woman’s body undergoes significant changes at varying points.
Sometimes, abnormalities and infections can occur and cause persistent discomfort and pain. Many of these conditions may also affect your ability to give birth. The following are some of the common women’s health risks and conditions that you should be alert to:
Irregular Bleeding
Bleeding is a normal and important part of having your periods. For most women, a typical menstrual period lasts about five days, with one “heavy day” where you experience a heavy flow of blood. You lose up to 4 ounces of blood during a “normal” period. But this is not a strict rule – some women could lose up to 8 ounces, which is still within safe and normal ranges.
However, if you have non-stop heavier bleeding for several days in a row, with painful cramping and clots, that is not normal. It’s also not normal to have heavy bleeding several weeks before your actual period.
In these cases, the heavy bleeding could be caused by abnormal non-cancerous growths in your womb – polyps, fibroids – or hormone changes. In rare instances, it could also be cancer. Most often, irregular bleeding can be treated with prescription medicine. For very severe cases, surgery may be needed.
Uterine Fibroids
A fibroid is a tiny growth made up of muscles and tissue. When many such small nodes start growing on the walls of the uterus, they are called uterine fibroids. They are not cancer and they do not increase your risk of getting any type of cancer.
Over time, fibroids can grow larger and larger, to a point where they fill your uterus and change its size with a bulge. You could have one large fibroid or several causing the bulge. Many women develop uterine fibroids during their life without it affecting their overall health.
As long as the fibroids remain tiny, you don’t experience any problems. Once they start to grow in size, they can cause heavy bleeding, long periods, bladder troubles, and pain in your pelvis, back, and legs.
Treatment for fibroids can include medication and minor surgeries to remove them if they grow too large. If you experience any of the symptoms listed, you should see a gynecologist as soon as possible for a pelvic exam and scans.
Endometriosis
The lining on the walls inside the uterus is called the endometrium. During your periods, the fluid that comes out of the vaginal canal is made up of broken bits of the endometrium. This is a normal part of menstruation.
Sometimes, the endometrium tissue can also grow outside the uterus. During these periods, it naturally breaks down. However, since it is outside the uterus, it has no way to flow through the vagina and be removed from your system.
This results in frequent swelling, inflammation, and over time, the development of scar tissue and lesions. It is a life-long problem that can cause severe pain during periods, sexual intercourse, or even urination.
Endometriosis left untreated can also affect your ability to have kids. Although there is no known cure, it can be managed with medication.
It is vital that you get advice from a gynecologist if you have severe pain during your periods.
Yeast Infections
Yeast cells are always present in small quantities in a normal, healthy vagina. At times, these yeast cells can grow out of control, leading to irritation, itching, rash, and soreness inside the vagina. Diabetes, antibiotics, pregnancy, birth control pills, or a weak immune system are possible causes of a vaginal yeast infection.
Although not life-threatening, yeast infections can make you very uncomfortable, particularly during sexual intercourse. They can be easily treated by using vaginal medicines and anti-fungal creams. Yeast infections usually do not go away on their own. You need to see a doctor for prescriptions.
Choose VNA Health Care for Your Gynecological Care Needs
Whether it is for annual pelvic exams (well-woman visits), pap smears, or treatment for gynecological issues, VNA Health Care assures easy access to affordable care options. To find a VNA clinic near you, check our locations page. If you want to book an appointment with a gynecologist or have any health concerns, please give us a call at (630) 892-4355.