A Pap smear is the best way to detect cervical precancerous and cancerous cells and increase the success of treatment. At Premier Women’s Health, Carolyn Kollar, DO, FACOOG, offers annual exams with risk factor assessment, Pap smears, and colposcopy to give you the best defenses against cervical cancer available. If you live in the Mansfield, Texas, area and need to schedule a Pap smear, contact Dr. Kollar over the phone today.
A Pap smear is a test for cervical cancer. Dr. Kollar usually performs a Pap smear in conjunction with your annual gynecologic exam. She collects cells from the cervix with a soft brush while a speculum dilates your vagina.
This sample of the cervical cells is sent to the lab for evaluation. A lab technician looks at your cells under a microscope to search for precancerous or cancerous cells. The office will discuss your results with you when they’re ready.
ACOG and the providers at Premier Women’s Health recommend annual exams. The frequency of pap smear testing is based on your risk factors and past results.
An abnormal Pap result means some of your cervical cells looked different than normal. Abnormal Pap results don’t necessarily mean you have cervical cancer. Your results could indicate the presence of one of four types of cells:
An abnormal Pap result usually warrants further testing. Dr. Kollar may use colposcopy to examine your tissue more closely and collect tissue for biopsy.
A Pap test allows Dr. Kollar to find precancerous or cancerous cells early when they’re more treatable.
Colposcopy is a procedure using a colposcope to examine the tissues inside the vulva, vagina, and cervix. The colposcope magnifies and lights the tissues so Dr. Kollar can identify cell abnormalities.
If she detects a questionable clump of abnormal cells, Dr. Kollar may collect a sample for biopsy. These samples are sent to the laboratory for further testing, which confirm by pathology the type of lesion.
The pap smear and/or colposcopy may need to be repeated at various intervals for surveillance until your results return to normal.
If you need to schedule a Pap smear or discuss an abnormal result, contact the experts at Premier Women’s Health for an evaluation.
