Is a Pap smear sterilizing?

As we all know:

The incidence of cervical cancer ranks second among malignant tumors of the female reproductive system. According to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 530,000 new cases and about 250,000 women die from cervical cancer every year. Among them, the number of women who die from cervical cancer in developing countries accounts for 80% of the global number of women who die from cervical cancer. In developed Western countries, the incidence of cervical cancer is slowly declining due to the use of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines and the popularization of cervical cancer screening.

One of the most important measures for women's health care in my country is the women's census every two years, and the main content of the women's census is cervical screening. So what is cervical screening? What does it check for? What are Pap smears and TCT? What are the specific differences between them?

With these questions, Xiao H found Dr. Wang from the Department of Gynecology at Zhoupu Hospital, who answered these questions.

What is cervical screening?

It mainly refers to screening for cervical cancer, through HPV testing, Pap smear test, and liquid-based cytology examination, to analyze whether there are any lesions in the cervix through comprehensive diagnosis.

Currently, cervical screening is one of the best methods for early detection of cervical lesions. Early cervical screening can achieve early detection, early prevention and early treatment.

Contents of cervical screening

1. Conventional (Pap test) and liquid-based cytology

2. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA)

3. HPV testing for high-risk HPV types

What is Pap smear and transcytology (TCT)?

The Pap smear (cervical smear), also known as the Pap smear, is a 70-year-old technology invented by a man named Papanicloau.

The cervical smear test is actually very simple. The whole process only takes 1 minute. The cervical epithelial cells are obtained through scraping, and then smeared on a glass slice. The doctor usually fixes the slice on 95% alcohol and then sends it to the pathologist for further examination. The pathologist will make a pathological diagnosis based on the nuclear morphology, structural abnormalities and changes in patina.

TCT is a liquid-based cytology test that uses a special cervical sampling swab to collect cervical cells. The removed specimens are quickly placed in a cell preservation solution and separated through centrifugation or filtration membranes to separate impurities such as blood and mucus. This allows the epithelial cell monolayer to be evenly distributed on the slide, thereby increasing the sensitivity of identifying high-grade cervical lesions.

What are the specific differences between them?

Different sampling methods

The cervical smear test is a more common sampling method, while the TCT test uses a dedicated sampler to take samples and place special cells in a small vial for preservation.

Samples are processed differently

The cervical smear test will not be processed at the later stage, but the TCT test will store the sample in a special liquid to preserve it.

The accuracy of the two is not the same

The accuracy of cervical smear examination is only about 70%, while the accuracy of TCT examination can reach more than 98%. It is better to do TCT.

The inspection fees are different for both

The inspection fees for the two are also different, with TCT inspection fees being relatively high.

Doctor's words:

Author: Wang Ying Liuzhou, Zhoupu Hospital, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

About the Author

Liuzhou

Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor of Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Adjunct Professor of Hainan Medical College.

Engaged in clinical, teaching and scientific research work in obstetrics and gynecology for 28 years. Professional research direction: gynecological tumors, gynecological minimally invasive techniques and conservative surgery for adenomyosis, and rescue of critical obstetric emergencies.

Clinic hours: Monday afternoon, Thursday morning.

About the Author

Wang Ying

Deputy Chief Physician of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health Medical College. Has been engaged in obstetrics and gynecology for 20 years and has been working in the front line of obstetrics and gynecology for a long time.

In the past 20 years of work experience, I have systematically and comprehensively mastered the diagnosis and treatment principles and measures of common, frequently occurring and difficult and complicated diseases in obstetrics and gynecology. I have accumulated rich clinical experience and advocated the patient-centered working principle in the diagnosis and treatment process. I have good professional ethics and dedication.

Clinic hours: Saturday morning.

Funded by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission's Science Popularization Project

(Project No.: 20DZ2311100)