The 5 yearly cervical screening test for women aged 25 to 74 has now replaced the previous 2 yearly pap smear test in Australia. The new test is performed the same way as a pap smear- the doctor or nurse inserts a speculum into the vagina and takes a sample of cells from the cervix with a plastic brush, which are then sent to a laboratory for analysis. However, the new cervical screening test checks the cervix for HPV (human papilloma virus), whereas the earlier one used to simply examine a woman’s cervical cells. HPV is by far the most common cause of cervical cancer. If HPV is detected by a cervical screening test, women will receive appropriate follow up to make sure they don’t get cervical cancer- this might involve a repeat cervical screening test or a gynaecology assessment and further investigation with a colposcopy.
The 5 yearly cervical screening test- what you need to know
The new 5 yearly cervical screening test for Australian women aged 25 to 74 arrived in recent years, replacing the previous 2 yearly pap smear test. But what does this mean for you? What if you’re under 25? And is this new test better than the old one? Here are the key facts: [...]