Cervical Cancer Prevention: A Routine Pap Smear Can Save Your Life

Cervical cancer can be life-threatening, but is easier to treat successfully with early detection. That’s why routine Pap smears at your regularly-scheduled well-woman exam are so important for your health. The results of your Pap smear could literally save your life.

At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges makes sure her patients get regular screening for cervical cancer from her locations in Odessa and Midland, Texas. How does a Pap smear help with cervical cancer prevention? This National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, let’s review the benefits of your routine Pap smear.

How Pap smears detect cervical cancer early

Your cervix is found at the top of your vagina, and forms an opening that leads to your uterus. Your cervix may develop cervical cancer, a condition that causes abnormal cellular growth, and can be life-threatening.

Pap smears involve taking a sample of cervical cells, collected on a cotton swab for testing. Dr. Bridges uses a speculum tool to hold your vagina open in order to access and swab your cervix during your well-woman exam. This may be slightly uncomfortable, but only takes a minute or two to complete.

After Dr. Bridges collects your sample, it’s sent off to the lab. Your Pap smear can return a normal or an abnormal result. An abnormal result doesn’t necessarily mean that you have cervical cancer. It just means that the test detected potential early warning signs that need to be followed up on, in the form of cellular abnormalities.

Dr. Bridges helps you interpret your Pap smear results and decide on your next steps. With Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, you know you have top-tier medical support for all your gynecological care needs.

When you need a Pap smear

Cervical cancer doesn’t have a lot of early warning symptoms that you can notice and seek care for. That’s why it’s so important to get regular Pap smears, and make sure that early indicators of cervical cancer aren’t present in your cells.

Dr. Bridges and the providers at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin help you determine how often you need Pap smears. Typically, most women need Pap smears once a year between the ages of 21-65. 

Routine screenings improve your chances of catching any signs of cervical cancer early. Make sure to get a Pap smear at least once every 1-3 years. It could save your life!

If you have a history of abnormal Pap smears, or a family history of cervical cancer, Dr. Bridges may recommend more frequent Pap smears for you, in order to keep a closer eye on your cervical cancer risk. You can also pair your Pap smear with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, or other sexually-transmitted infection testing.

For gynecological care, including cervical cancer screenings that could save your life, get in touch with Dr. Bridges at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin today. Call now to schedule your appointment, or book with our easy-to-use online scheduling tool.