Is a cervical smear test painful?

I believe that all female friends have more or less knowledge about cervical diseases, and severe cervical diseases can endanger the overall uterine cavity of women, and at this time the problem can only be solved by removing the uterus. In order to detect cervical lesions, there are many different screening methods in modern clinical medicine, among which cervical smear is a common method. But is it painful during a cervical smear test?

What does a cervical smear test?

1. Pathological examination of cervical biopsy tissue

Cervical disease examination items are issues that patients with cervical disease are very concerned about. If cervical disease is not treated in time, it can easily worsen. Therefore, timely detection and treatment are very important.

2. Pathological examination of cervical biopsy tissue

This examination is the basis for diagnosing cervical cancer. At present, medical experts' research shows that the main cause of cervical cancer is women being infected with human papillomavirus. Therefore, medical scientists are working on developing an economical, efficient and inexpensive human papillomavirus test to screen for early cervical cancer.

3. Colposcopy

It can quickly detect lesions that are invisible to the naked eye and take biopsies from suspicious areas during colposcopy, which can significantly improve the accuracy of biopsies.

4. Iodine test and visual observation

The method is very simple and cheap, and can detect at least 2/3 of the lesions. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of visual inspection in developing countries. As an initial screening method for cervical cancer, 3%-5% acetic acid solution is applied to the cervix. Observe the reaction of the cervical epithelium to acetic acid, and then take a biopsy from the white lesion area.

5. Cervical smear cytology examination

It is a routine gynecological examination, simple, easy, cost-effective, and the most important auxiliary examination and the preferred initial screening method for cancer prevention surveys.

6. Gynecological examination

Focus on checking the size, texture, shape, thickness of the cervical canal, and whether there is contact bleeding. Secondly, check the condition of the vulva, vagina, uterus, and paracervical tissues (ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic lymph nodes, etc.).

Does a cervical smear hurt?

1. According to experts, cervical scraping is actually painless. It collects secretions from the external opening of the cervix. Therefore, this examination method will not cause cervical damage or pain.

The specific operation procedure of cervical scraper is as follows: after fully exposing the external os of the cervix, rotate the scraper 360 degrees at the external os of the cervix and gently scrape the mucosa and secretions there. The secretions were then evenly spread on numbered slides, immediately fixed in 95% ethanol for 15 minutes, and removed and stained with the Papanicolaou staining method. Therefore, this diagnostic method will not cause cervical damage or pain, so female friends can rest assured to check it out.

2. Pay attention to the following matters when doing cervical smear examination

(1) In principle, it is better to check right after menstruation. If there is no menstruation, or there is abnormal bleeding, or the secretions have an odor, samples can be taken for examination at any time. If someone who receives regular examinations finds any abnormal phenomenon before the scheduled time, he or she should go to the doctor for examination immediately.

(2) Do not douche the vagina within 24-48 hours before the examination. Many women douche the vagina and the area before seeing a gynecologist as a courtesy. This will ruin the "scene" and affect the results of the smear.

(3) Please seek examination from an experienced obstetrician and gynecologist, because in addition to the location and collection techniques of cervical smear sampling, the obstetrician and gynecologist's observation with the naked eye and accompanying internal examination is also a necessary task. Clinical experience combined with the accuracy of smear smear can improve the accuracy of cervical smear.

(4) There must be results after the examination. Nowadays, there are too many obstetrics and gynecology patients and some of them may be too busy with personal matters to remember to check the results. It should be noted that without results, the examination is in vain and in serious cases, it may delay the disease. However, there are also patients whose doctors personally tell them that they have abnormal cells and ask them to return for a checkup immediately, but many people ignore the response, which is a pity.

(5) Cervical smears can only be used for cancer screening and cannot be used as a formal basis for diagnosis. The final conclusion will be determined by the report of the pathologist on the biopsy, so do not panic if you hear that there is abnormal cell lesions.