Annual Pap Is Not Enough
Did you know that an annual pap smear test is not enough in the battle against cervical cancer? Oh yes, like we, women don’t get enough tests, right? But, listen up! Most experts recommend that women should also be tested for Human Papillomavirus as well.
A recent study revealed that women aged 40 and above have a higher possibility of developing severe lesions that may lead to cervical cancer from an HPV infection than younger women.
Furthermore, when a woman develops HPV later in life, they are more likely to have infections that are persistent. That is where the dangers of cervical cancer come from. As compared to younger women, if they get HPV, it goes away faster on its own half of the time.
We all are aware of the fact that Pap Smear have become the gold standard in detecting cervical cancer. What we don’t know is that, they are designed to reveal current cervical changes but they do not predict future risk from infection.
Therefore, the next time you head out to your gyno, ask for HPV-DNA test along with your annual Pap Smear.
as they say, as you get older, you are at greater risk. i’ll have to take note of this for when i get forty…
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@ Kikamz
that’s right Kamz. I hope you do go for your annual Pap screening. It’s not the best thing to do every year but as they say, ti’s better to be safe than sorry. I myself, have to drag my fingers to even dial my gyno’s number for my annual appointment. I dread having to go there every year for the pap.
This post can save lives. Thanks for sharing this.
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@ hunnypop
you’re welcome.