Pap Smear Research Paper

For many years, women were advised to get Pap smears every year. A Pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer using a speculum to see the patient’s cervix. The doctor swabs your cervix with a brush to collect cells and send them off for analysis. According to new guidelines from the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) cervical screening every three years extends life at a cost of about $5,392 per life saved (Center for Disease and Control, 2008). In addition, it ensures women receive the benefits of testing while minimizing the risks. The new guidelines state women between the ages of 21 and 29 are encouraged to get Pap smears every three years, while those between the ages of 30 – 64 are encouraged to get

Pap smears done every three to five years. Screening is not recommended for women over the age of 65 who have had three or more normal Pap smears in a row. Pap smears are recommended whether women are sexually active or not. Getting screened for cervical cancer every three years instead of annually reduces false-negative and false- positive results that would delay the diagnosis of a precancerous condition or cancer. These time intervals allow any abnormal cells missed at one screening to be detected and treated successfully at the next screening. In 2014, 12,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 women died from the disease (Kay, 2014). These numbers represent only one percent of female cancer deaths. The best way to protect yourself against cervical cancer is: getting the HPV vaccine, staying monogamous, refraining from smoking and using condoms. Overall it is more cost effective to get screened for cervical cancer every three years than yearly.