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ANNUAL PAP SMEAR AND PELVIC EXAM
Health care providers call these exams “Annual
Exams” because
they are recommended every year. Some people refer to these exams as “pelvic
exams” or just “pap smears” but in fact the annual
exam is more.
First, you will be asked to complete a form with questions
about your medical history (health history form). The focus of these
questions is on your menstrual and sexual history and the way you protect
yourself from sexually transmitted diseases, as well as your pregnancy
history and plans. Your practitioner will discuss these with you. It
is important to tell your practitioner about any drugs you may be using,
including alcohol and tobacco. Please ask any questions you have about
these issues.
After discussing your history, the practitioner will examine
your heart, lungs and thyroid gland and do a breast examination. If you
don’t
already do self breast examinations, instruction on how to do them and
what to look for will be provided. Your best protection against breast
disease is your own monthly breast check.
Next is the pelvic exam which
includes a pap smear, test for gonorrhea and chlamydia and a bimanual
examination. To do these, the practitioner needs to see your cervix (the
end of your uterus which shows inside your vagina). A special tool (speculum)
with two rounded sides is inserted into your vagina to help the practitioner
see your cervix. You can have a mirror so you can see it too, if you'd
like. The Pap smear involves taking a sample from the cervix with a special
brush to get a few cells off the surface. Sometimes this feels scratchy
and uncomfortable, usually not. The cells are sent to a laboratory where
they are examined for pre-cancerous changes. If cell changes are noted,
the specimen is automatically tested for the presence of high-risk HPV
(human papillomavirus) which is the major cause of cervical cancer. There
is an additional charge for this test and you would be billed for it.
Results of these tests are usually available in 2 to 3 weeks.
The gonorrhea
and chlamydia test involves placing a special Q-tip just inside the cervix
for a few seconds. You will not feel this. The specimen is sent to a
laboratory. The results are available in about 1 week.The bi-manual exam
is often the last part of the examination. The speculum is removed from
the vagina. Then the practitioner checks the size and shape of your uterus
and ovaries by feeling them between two fingers in the vagina and a hand
on your abdomen. If you have had a history of bowel problems, or if you
are over forty, you may also have a rectal exam to check for rectal abnormalities
and traces of blood in your stools. When this is done, your examination
is complete.
After you get dressed your provider will return to discuss
any treatments you might need, options for controlling your fertility
or questions that remain. For normal results, you will be notified by
mail. If any of your tests are abnormal we will call you or notify you
by mail.
Questions about Pap smears and annual pelvic examinations can be answered
by the Student Health Center staff at (775)784-6598.
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