What is a Pap (cervical smear) test?

Objective:

To determine the incidence of cervical cancer after several negative cervical smear tests at different ages.

Design:

Prospective observational study of incidence of cervical cancer after the third consecutive negative result based on individual level data in a national registry of histopathology and cytopathology (PALGA).

Setting:

Netherlands, national data. Population 218,847 women aged 45-54 and 445,382 aged 30-44 at the time of the third negative smear test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 10 year cumulative incidence of interval cervical cancer. RESULTS: 105 women developed cervical cancer within 2 595,964 woman years at risk after the third negative result at age 30-44 and 42 within 1,278,532 woman years at risk after age 45-54. During follow-up, both age groups had similar levels of screening. After 10 years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence rate of cervical cancer was similar: 41/100,000 (95% confidence interval 33 to 51) in the younger group and 36/100,000 (24 to 52) in the older group (P=0.48). The cumulative incidence rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade I+ was twice as high in the younger than in the older group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The risk for cervical cancer after several negative smear results by age 50 is similar to the risk at younger ages. Even after several negative smear results, age is not a good discriminative factor for early cessation of cervical cancer screening.

Please click on the required question.

• 1 What is the cervix?
• 2 What is a cervical polyp?
• 3 What is meant by cervical erosion (ectopy) and cervicitis?
• 4  What is the transformation zone?
• 5 What is a 'Paptest' (PAP test (cervical smear) test)
• 6  My PAP smear test (cervical smear) shows inflammation. Should I be worried?
• 7  What are cells and what is an abnormal (pre- malignant) cell?
• 8 My PAP smear test (cervical smear) shows abnormal cells. Does this mean that I have cancer?
• 9  What is meant by the terms pre-malignant cells, dyskaryosis, dysplasia and CIN?
• 10  What are the symptoms of pre-malignancy of the cervix?
• 11  What are benign and malignant tumours?
• 12  Why have I developed a pre-malignant condition of my cervix?
• 13  What is colposcopy?
• 14  What treatments are available for pre-malignant conditions of the cervix?
• 15  Can pre-malignant conditions of the cervix be cured?
• 16  How can I be re-assured that the pre-malignant changes will not recur?
• 17  How can we prevent carcinoma of the cervix?
• 18  Is there a reason to screen for HPV?
• 19  Support Groups.
• 20  Are there any support groups?

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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.