Getting a Pap Smear could save your life - advice from Dr. Reiaz Mohammed

Every year about 60 women die from cervical cancer in Trinidad and Tobago. These are 60 grandmothers, mothers, wives, sisters, children and friends who could be alive today if only they had a pap smear done.  

A pap smear is a simple, quick test that is used to help prevent cervical cancer.  Cervical cancer refers to cancer of the neck of the womb. It is caused by a virus which is transmitted through sex. Cervical cancer takes many years to develop and there are pre cancerous changes that can be detected and treated, so that cancer is prevented. You can therefore think of a pap smear as a test to prevent cervical cancer rather than to detect it.

Women should have their first pap smear 3 years after starting to have sex. They should then have one every year for three years. If all three of the pap smears are normal then you can have one done every 3 years.

Many women are afraid that a pap smear will be painful. This is not true. A pap smear involves passage of an instrument into the vagina to see the cervix (neck of the womb), a small brush is then used to take cells from the cervix, which are sent to the lab to check for any cancerous or pre cancerous changes. At no point in time is a needle or any sharp instrument used during a pap smear. If the cells come back pre cancerous, there are simple treatments available to prevent cervical cancer from developing. In addition to detecting cancerous and precancerous cells, a pap smear may also detect some vaginal infections which can also be easily treated.

Pap smears can be done at your health centre, the cancer society, family planning clinics, your family doctor or your gynaecologist. You should not be having your period at the time of the pap smear and you should not douche or have sex for 24 hours prior to the test. It takes no more than 15 minutes, and results are normally available in 3-4 weeks. Make it a priority to have your pap smear done today and encourage your friends and family to come along with you, you may just be saving their life!

If you have any questions about pap smears or your health in general I will be happy to answer them, just post them up on the blog.

Dr. Reiaz Mohammed

MB.BS (UWI), MRCOG(UK)

Specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist

Gulf View Medical Centre