Free Pap smear, anti-cervical cancer vaccine launched

THE Office of the Vice Mayor and the City Council's committee on women, children, and family relations launched Tuesday free Pap smear testing and anti-cervical cancer vaccine.

Committee chair Angela Librado-Trinidad and Vice Mayor Sara Duterte led the launching that offers free Pap smear testing to interested City Council women employees.

"The Pap smear is the best way to detect precancerous conditions and hidden, small tumors that may lead to cervical cancer. If detected early, cervical cancer can be cured," Librado said.

This is in line with the Women Health Care Program of the City Council.

City Health Officer, Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, also held a short lecture about Pap smear.

"A Pap smear (Pap test) is a test of a sample of cells taken from a woman's cervix. The test is used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix that show cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer," Villafuerte said in the vernacular.

"Pap screen testing should begin at age 21. Routine screening is recommended every two years for women 21-29 years old. For certain women 30 years and older who have had three consecutive normal screening test results, testing can be done every three years," she said.

Villafuerte said the reasons a woman could get an infection is when she engages into sex, gives birth to a child, or having abortions.

Villafuerte said a Pap smear is not painful, but the pelvic exam may be a little uncomfortable. "The Pap smear is done during a pelvic exam. A doctor uses a device called a speculum to widen the opening of the vagina so that the cervix can be examined. A plastic spatula and small brush are used to collect cells from the cervix. After the cells are taken, they are placed into a solution. The solution is sent to a lab for testing," she said.

Villafuerte said a normal Pap smear means the cells from the cervix look normal.

Sometimes repeat Pap smears are needed. Different tests also may need to be done, such as a colposcopy (the use of a special microscope to examine the cervix and vagina). Pap smears can occasionally show signs of infection but cannot be relied on to screen for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Villafuerte said other tests are necessary to determine the presence of an STD. There are several things you can do to help make the Pap smear as accurate as possible. These include avoidance of sex, douching, and vaginal creams for 48 hours before the test. (JCZ)

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