Saving Lives with a Smear: The Importance of the Pap Test

by Abigail Pleiss

September 2024

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in North Dakota, ranking only after heart disease, according to the North Dakota Department of Health. Cervical cancer, a cancer of the opening part of the womb, kills about five North Dakota women each year. It often doesn't have symptoms, and someone may not know they have it until it spreads. However, it's one of the cancers that can be prevented or effectively treated if caught early which is why it's important to be familiar with routine screening.

Screening is a type of test that helps with early detection of many medical conditions. For cervical cancer, screening is done with the Pap smear, a test that uses a small brush to collect cells from the surface of the cervix. The cells are then sent to a lab to be looked at under a microscope. Another part of this screening may involve testing those same cells for a virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus can cause a silent infection and over time may trigger cervical cancer. Special testing for more dangerous types of HPV can tell a health care provider if a woman may be at higher risk for cancer.

An abnormal result for either of these tests doesn't necessarily mean someone has cervical cancer. Instead, cells might just be showing pre-cancer changes. In this case, follow-up tests may be needed. One follow-up test is called a colposcopy, a test that looks at the cervix more closely using a magnifying lens.

Some women are unsure when their Pap test should be done. Talking to a healthcare provider can answer that question. The current recommendations for cervical cancer screening depend on a woman's age. According to the Unites States Preventive Services Task Force as well as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women aged 21 to 29 should receive a Pap smear every three years. Women aged 30 to 65 can get either a Pap smear along with HPV testing every five years or continue the Pap smear alone every three years. If any abnormalities are seen on the tests, a woman may need more frequent testing.

The Pap smear can be done by a primary care doctor as part of a woman's complete checkup. It can be helpful to talk to a provider if there are questions or concerns about the test because regular Pap smears are important to prevent cervical cancer. Knowing more about the screening process and reasons to do a Pap smear can empower women to discuss their personal screening status with their healthcare provider.

About the Author

Abigail Pleiss is a fourth-year medical student at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. After her clinical experiences in Jamestown, Pleiss chose to participate in the Targeted Rural Health Education (TRHE) project, a project focusing on teaching student doctors how to partner with rural newspapers to share health information. The information provided is not for diagnosis or treatment and should not be used in place of previous medical advice provided by a licensed healthcare professional.