Pap smear
The Pap test (or Pap smear) can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early. It looks for precancerous cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately. The Pap test is recommended for all women between the ages of 21 and 65 years old.- A normal (or “negative”) result means that no cell changes were found on your cervix. This is good news! But you still need to get Pap tests every three years (if your Pap smear results are normal) because new cell changes can still form on your cervix.
- It is common for test results to come back unclear. Your doctor may use words like “equivocal”, “inconclusive”, and “ASC-US” to describe this result. These all mean the same thing—that your cervical cells look like they could be abnormal. It could be related to life changes like pregnancy, menopause, or an infection. The HPV test can help find out if your cell changes are related to HPV. Ask your doctor what to do next.
- An abnormal result means that cell changes were found on your cervix. This usually does not mean that you have cervical cancer. Abnormal changes on your cervix are likely caused by HPV. The changes may be minor (low-grade) or serious (high-grade). Most of the time, minor changes go back to normal on their own. But more serious changes can turn into cancer if they are not removed. The more serious changes are often called “precancer” because they are not yet cancer, but they can turn into cancer over time. In rare cases, an abnormal Pap test can show that you may have cancer. You will need other tests to be sure. The earlier you find cervical cancer, the easier it is to treat.
STD/STI Screening & Treatment
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are passed from person to person through any sexual activity. They don’t always cause symptoms, or the symptoms may be mild, so it is possible to spread it to others without knowing that you have been infected. This is why it is important to be tested for STDs and STIs.
At Piedmont Women’s Center, we screen for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. If a test result is positive, we will contact you and provide you with a treatment plan.
Approximately 20 million new cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STD/STI) occur every year in the US. Of the millions of affected people, over 50% of them are aged 15-24!
Additionally, the CDC has released a list of diseases and related conditions, as well as a fact sheet of ways young adults can prevent STD’s and stay healthy.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that “if you are diagnosed with an STD, know that all can be treated with medicine and some can be cured entirely.”
At Piedmont Women’s Center, we screen and treat STI’s for both women and men.
