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  Cervical Screening Programme Download

1. Why do we have cervical cancer screening? Local statistics show that cervical cancer is one of the commonest cancer in female.
Before the development of cancer, there is a precancerous period when the cervical cells exhibit abnormal changes. The medical term of these abnormalities are Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). CIN is graded as mild (CIN I), moderate (CIN II) and severe (CIN III). If not properly treated, CIN lesions may progress to cancer in 5-10 years.
Women with CIN usually do not have any symptoms. The aim of cervical cancer screening (by the Pap smear test) is to detect these abnormalities for early treatment to stop the progression of this precancerous stage to cancer.
2. Who should have the cervical screening test? Women with sexual exposure and aged 25 or above should have the cervical screening test. Health professionals will consider performing the smear for women below 25 years old if they have risk factors (e.g. early sexual exposure, multiple sexual partners, history of sexually transmitted disease, cigarette smoking).
3. How is the test performed? This is a simple procedure that only takes a few minutes. By inserting a speculum into the vagina, the health professional takes some cells from the cervix with a spatula or a small brush. The cells are then transferred onto a glass slide or into a bottle of fluid, and sent to be checked at the laboratory.
4. What should be noted before the test?
Avoid sexual intercourse and vaginal douching one day before the cervical test. If you have abnormal vaginal discharge, please seek medical treatment first as vaginal discharge may affect the accuracy of the test. Having the test within the week of vaginal pessary treatment is not recommended.
5. Cervical screening test result Most of the test results are normal. About 10 % of women may be called back for repeating the test. You need not worry because the majority of unsatisfactory test results are due to technical reasons and a repeat test is required for a better interpretation. About one out of 30 women having the test may be found to have abnormal cell changes. They need further investigation or referral to gynaecologist. The proportion of having a diagnosis of cervical cancer is extremely small.
6. How frequent should the test be done?
Smear should be taken every year for the first two consecutive years. After these two smears, majority of CINs or cervical cancers would have been revealed. If the results are negative for malignancy, the test can be done every three years CINs usually take 5 to 10 years to become cancerous. Therefore, if the first two smears did not reveal any abnormalities, studies showed that subsequent test at an interval of 1 year or 3 years gave similar results. Hence, women do not need to do this examination every year but only once every 3 years.
Women who had been treated for cervical cancer or CINs might need more frequent examinations.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. In any doubt of symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, e.g. abnormal vaginal bleeding, see your doctor.
 
 
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Last revision date: 1 September 2010