An estimated 4,000 women in the United States die each year from cervical cancer. Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology offers Pap smears and other preventive screenings to identify cervical cancer early so you can get the treatment you deserve. The experienced OB/GYNs complete Pap smears as part of your routine pelvic exam and also offer educational resources to help you minimize your cervical cancer risk. Call the Alpharetta or Atlanta, Georgia, office to schedule a preventive Pap smear or book an appointment online today.
What are Pap smears?
A Pap smear is a preventive test that screens for precancerous and cancerous cells in the cervix. Preventive screenings are critical for identifying cancer because you may not experience any symptoms until the disease progresses.
The goal of a Pap smear is to identify cervical cancer in the earliest stages when treatment is typically most effective. The test can help stop cancer cells from spreading elsewhere in the body.
Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology offers Pap smears for women as part of its preventive health services. The providers let you know how often you should schedule a Pap smear based on your medical history, cancer risk, and age.
They can also complete a test to identify human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease that can increase risk factors for cervical cancer.
What can I expect during a Pap smear?
The Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology providers complete a Pap smear as part of a pelvic exam. While you relax on an exam table, your physician inserts a speculum, a device that holds the vaginal walls open to make your cervix accessible.
They insert a small instrument through your vagina and brush it across your cervix to collect a sample of cells. You might feel some pressure, but the procedure isn’t painful.
The physician sends the cell sample to a medical lab for further evaluation. When your results are ready, they contact you to discuss them.
What do the results of my Pap smear mean?
A normal Pap smear means the test didn’t find any suspicious cell changes. Your Pap smear may also come back as unclear – meaning the lab couldn’t determine if the cell sample is normal or abnormal.
An abnormal Pap smear is not an indication that you have cervical cancer. Your Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology provider may order another Pap smear to confirm your results or recommend other types of diagnostic testing to confirm or rule out cancer, such as a colposcopy.
If your screening does indicate the presence of cancer, your physician discusses your options for treatment. Typically, a minimally invasive procedure to remove cancerous cells is necessary to prevent the cancer from spreading.
Call Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology to schedule a routine Pap smear or book an appointment online today.
