The cervix is the lowest part of the uterus, forms an opening between the uterus and the vagina. The causes of the cervical cancer are: smoking, early start of the sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, the use of the oral contraceptive for a longer period of 5 years, compromised immune system, especially women with HIV. The main cause of the cervical cancer is represented by the human papilloma virus. Human papilloma virus is a sexual transmitted virus. People may by infected with this virus without knowing, because they don’t present any symptoms. Human papilloma virus is classified in 200 types, some of the viruses types may cause warts and disappear without any treatment, but other viruses types may lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva and anus.

Human papilloma virus is considered to be the most   common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. In many cases human papilloma virus disappear on its own, but if it doesn’t disappear it causes changes of the cervix cells. The Pap smear test is the most accurate test that may diagnose the abnormality of the cells before they turn into cervical cancer. The Pap smear test is simple test that can be done in the doctor’s office. It is a simple procedure done by the doctor or a nurse by removing cells from the area of the cervix to be tested at the medical lab for any abnormality of the cells. In some cases, the cervix cells in a woman may change and became abnormal. The abnormal form of the cells may not be cancerous, yet. But, left untreated they may transform into cancer cells.

All the doctors advise women to do regularly the Pap smear test in order to diagnose the cervical cancer in early stages and to increase the chances of healing more easily. The Pap smear test detect all the changes caused by human papilloma virus to the cells of the cervix. The Pap smear test doesn’t detect many sexually transmitted diseases. Before you go to the doctor and do the Pap smear test you should know a few things: don’t douche 24 hours before, don’t use vaginal medicines or creams. This procedure cannot be done if you are in the period time. After this procedure the cells from the cervix are send to a medical lab for investigations and the result of the procedure will come back in 1 or 2 weeks.
The result of the Pap smear test may be:
-normal or negative (witch means that the cervix cells are normal)
-abnormal or positive (it doesn’t necessary mean that you have cancer, it means that the doctor should do more tests that will reveal if the abnormality of the cells is cancer or not).
The Pap smear test should be done at 3 years after starting the sexual life or at 21 years old, or 1 or 3 year after the age of 35. The women should stop doing the Pap smear test after the age of 65 or if they had a total hysterectomy and had both uterus and cervix removed. The Pap smear test is not expensive, in some cases this procedure is free or low cost. Every women should realize the importance of the Pap smear test, it is an extremely important, not painful procedure that may do the difference between severe disease and health, or between life and death. Listen to the doctors advice and do the Pap smear test regularly.