Did you know that cervical cancer screenings are very simple and fast, and can be done during your regular annual visit? Your annual visit is important for many reasons, this is the time for blood work, breast exams, and pelvic exams to check for signs of ovarian cancer, and to speak to your doctor about your overall health at each stage of your life.
“Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States, but now that patients are more educated on their own health, these numbers are decreasing more drastically” says Andrew Markowitz, M.D. “We are seeing more patients in recent years who are requesting this test, than in recent years, part of this could possibly be from the talk about the Anti-Cancer Vaccine now available for tweens up to age 26 in our office.”
Wondering what to expect with the test? The screening is a simple pap test, which looks for changes in the cells of the cervix that could lead to cancer. Once the cells are collected, they are sent to a lab for testing. As with all testing, nothing is completely accurate, there is always a chance for a false-positive result. Talking with your Women’s Health and Menopause doctor, will determine the best timing for all your screenings.
