As you work towards creating intentions, instead of resolutions this year, it’s also important to pay attention to parts of your body that are easily neglected. One such body part is your cervix, the tissue that connects your uterus to your vagina. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and so we reached out to our go-to medical doctor, Dr. Caleb Mawutor Dzunu, Family Physician at St. Luke Medical Hospital, Ghana, to discuss one of the easiest ways to care for your cervix: a pap smear procedure.
What is it?
“It is a relatively simple test or procedure done to examine the cervix (lower end of the uterus) for changes that may be cancerous (cervical cancer) or may lead to cancer. Cells are taken from the cervix and examined for abnormality,” explains Dr. Dzunu.
An abnormal pap smear result may require further testing to be done in order to determine the next steps.
But when should you get your first pap smear? According to Dr. Dzunu, every woman should take a pap smear test at the age of 21.
At what frequency?
“This depends on the age, presence of risk factors for cervical cancer, result of the first pap smear and whether or not HPV test has been done. Hence, it is very important to work with your trained health care worker,” advises Dr. Dzunu.
He recommends a test every three years and co-testing (both pap smear and HPV) every five years. However, he stresses that these frequencies of testing are subject to the result of each episode of testing.
This procedure is one of the best ways to determine the health of your cervix and for early detection of cervical changes or cervical cancer. Consider getting a test today, by a trained medical professional, if you’ve never done so.
Learn more about how to spot and prevent cervical cancer.