alright, time to google
so as you can see - over 18 AND have had sex
i doubt it's got anything to do with fitting the instruments there, they aren't going to let people have a chance of getting cancer for that reason.
the only info i would like to have which i can't find is what does sex do to make people prone to cervical cancer? - found something below
is the thing about " and who have a cervix" a joke? do some women not have a cervix?
government site:
http://www.cervicalscreen.health.gov.au/papsmear/
What is a Pap smear?
In 1928, Dr Papanicolaou discovered that cells in the cervix change in appearance before they become cancerous. The Pap smear, named after the doctor, can detect early changes in the cells which may be the first warning signs that a problem is occurring. These changes need to be checked and if necessary, treated as some may develop into cancer.
A Pap smear is a simple procedure in which a number of cells are collected from the cervix and sent to a laboratory where they are tested for anything unusual.
No drugs or anaesthetics are required and it can easily be done by a doctor or women's health nurse. It only takes a few minutes, but it can save lives.
What does the Pap smear do?
A Pap smear checks for changes in the cells of the cervix. It is a screening procedure to find early warning signs that cancer might develop in the future.
It does not check for other problems in the reproductive system and it is not a check for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Women who are worried that they may have a STD should talk to their doctor about the tests and treatments available.
How effective is the Pap smear?
Regular Pap smears every two years can help prevent up to 90 per cent of the most common type of cervical cancer.
Like all screening procedures, the Pap smear has limitations. Sometimes it will not detect early cell changes because the smear did not contain enough abnormal cells. Also, some samples are difficult to interpret due to blood or mucus on the slide. If this occurs, the doctor or women's health nurse may need to take another Pap smear.
Who should have a Pap smear?
All women over 18 who have ever had sex and who have a cervix should have regular Pap smears every two years, even if they no longer have sex.
They should
start between the ages of 18 and 20 years, or one or two years after first having sex, whichever is later, and continue until aged 70. At 70 their doctor may advise them that they no longer need Pap smears, providing previous ones were normal.
Who is most at risk?
All women who have a cervix and who have had sex at some time in their life are at risk of cervical cancer.
It is not clear exactly what causes cervical cancer however the risk increases with age. Half of the new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed each year are in women over 50.
What about the results?
The results of a Pap smear usually take one to two weeks. It is important that women ask their doctor about when and how they will find out about the results.
Most results are normal and you won't have to do anything else except remember to have another Pap smear in two years time.
I've been through menopause, do I still need to have Pap smears?
Yes. The risk of getting cervical cancer increases with age so it is important to keep having Pap smears every two years, even after menopause.
At age 70, women should talk to their doctor about the need to continue having Pap smears. Their doctor may advise that its safe to stop, if previous Pap smears have been normal.
I've had a hysterectomy. Do I still need to have Pap smears?
It depends on the type of, and reasons for, the hysterectomy. For example, if the hysterectomy was only partial and the cervix was left intact, a Pap smear every two years will still be necessary.
It is important that women who have had a hysterectomy talk to their doctor to find out if they need to have regular Pap smears.
How often should I have a Pap smear?
If you are over 18 and have ever had sex, you should have a Pap smear every two years, even if you no longer have sex.
The most common type of cervical cancer usually takes more than ten years to develop, so having a Pap smear every two years is quite sufficient. Your doctor may recommend more frequent Pap smears if a previous one showed significant cell changes or you experience problems, such as bleeding or pain after sex.
Where can I get a Pap smear?
Most general practitioners, health centres and family planning clinics provide Pap smears.
more info from a more dodgy site that says some different things:
http://www.microtech.com.au/papsmears/Myths.htm
Myths:
Once you have had a pap smear you're not a virgin anymore.
This is simply not true. ....... Losing your virginity involves sexual penetration. Whilst pap smear testing does involve penetration of the vagina, it is not a sexual procedure. If a woman who is a virgin has a pap smear, then she is still a virgin. Not until that woman experiences sexual penetration, (having something like a penis or dildo/vibrator placed in the vagina) will that woman lose her virginity.
(i don't agree with some of that above so i don't find this site a crdible source but i'll copy and paste more)
If you are a virgin, you don't need a pap smear
Every woman should consider regular pap smear testing, including women who have never had a sexual experience. This is because cervical cancer can develop in any woman, regardless of her sexual history. It is advised that every woman be tested for cervical cancer once every two years, or within two years of first having sexual intercourse, which ever comes first.
(so why doesn't the government site say that?
Lesbians don't need pap smears
Lesbian and bisexual woman also need regular pap smear testing if they are to detect the early development of cervical cancer. Whilst it is true that cervical exposure to semen can be a factor in the development of cervical cancer, ALL women, regardless of their sexual preferences are at risk from developing cervical cancer. Regular pap smear testing is the only way to detect the early development of cervical cancer. It is advised that every woman be tested for cervical cancer once every two years.
found some more info on why sexually active people get it.
http://www.womhealth.org.au/studentfactsheets/cervicalcancer.htm
Health Information - Student Factsheet
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which is the name given to the opening at the bottom of a woman's uterus, where it protrudes into the vagina. The cervix is formed of firm tissue and feels a little like the tip of the nose.
There are several forms of cervical cancer, with the most common being squamous cell carcinoma. Before this type of cervical cancer occurs, there are usually other non-cancerous abnormal cell changes called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or CIN. The Pap smear test is designed to detect these abnormal cells at an early stage, so they can be treated before they become cancerous.
When a woman has a Pap smear test, cells are gently scraped from the surface of the cervix. The cell samples are sent to a pathology laboratory where they are examined under a microscope. If abnormal cells are spotted at an early stage, treatment can be given which will prevent these changes from developing into cancer.
It is estimated that up to 90% of the most common form of cervical cancer can be prevented through a program of regular screening (1).
Some facts and figures
In 2000, there were 745 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in Australia, accounting for 1.9% of all female cancer cases (2).
In 2000, cervical cancer accounted for 265 Australian deaths (3).
The average risk of being diagnosed with cancer of the cervix before the age of 75 years is one in 170 (4).
In 2000, the incidence rate of cervical cancer was 7.6 per 100 000 women (5).
The average number of new cases of cervical cancer per year in Queensland (for the years 1996-2000) was 169 (6).
Risk factors
It appears that the main causal factor in cervical cancer is the genital human papilloma virus (HPV) or the genital wart virus. The presence of genital HPV has been found in almost all cases of cervical cancer. However, because the vast majority of women with genital HPV do not develop cervical cancer it is thought that other co-factors, such as smoking, also need to be present (7). Genital HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact and, therefore, the risk factors for cervical cancer are related to sexual behaviour. Risk factors include:
Sexual activity: women who have never had sexual intercourse do not tend to develop cervical cancer
Early sexual intercourse: evidence from many studies suggests that adolescent sexual intercourse increases the risk of developing cervical cancer.
Sexual activity with a number of different partners: multiple partners increase a woman's chance of contracting a sexually transmitted infection, as does sexual intercourse with a person who has had multiple partners.
Smoking: although it is not known how the mechanism works, the association between smoking and cervical cancer is well-recognised.
Indigenous women are also a high risk group. The data reveals the incidence of cervical cancer in Aboriginal communities is five times higher than the rest of Queensland, and the mortality rate 13 times higher (8). In the Torres Strait the incidence of cervical cancer is 5.3 times higher than the Queensland average and the mortality rate 21.5 times higher (9).
Recent research suggests that these higher incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are a result of low screening participation rates in indigenous communities and a low compliance with follow up for cervical abnormalities (10).
Cervical cancer screening: Recommendations
For Pap smear screening to be effective, tests should be done regularly. The Organised Approach to the Prevention of Cancer of the Cervix (OAPCC) has been in place across Australian Commonwealth and State Governments since 1992. It recommends that:
Pap smears should be conducted every two years for women who have no symptoms or history of cervical problems.
All women who have ever been sexually active should commence having Pap smears between the ages of 18-20 or one to two years after they first have sexual intercourse (which ever is the later).
Pap smears may cease at 70 years of age for women who have had two consecutive normal Pap smears within the last five years but women over the age of 70 who have never had a Pap smear should have one (11).
Participation in screening
In the 2 year period from 1999-2000, 3 314 787 Australian women aged 20 years and over were screened for cervical abnormalities. The participation rate for the target population (women aged 20- 69 years) was 63.3% during this period (12).
Some groups of women still remain underscreened or unscreened. These women include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from some culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women of low socioeconcomic status. Similarly, some women are in fact being overscreened, that is they are being rescreened before the recommended two year screening interval. Overscreening is an important issue as it can lead to an increase in follow-up procedures and significantly impact on the cost of the National Cervical Screening Program. More than 20% of women in the 30-59 age group reported having a Pap smear at least annually, and 19.4% of 18-29 year olds (13).
Drawbacks and debates
Although the Pap smear test is recognised as central to cervical cancer prevention, it is also acknowledged as not being infallible. Some estimates put the number of false negatives (i.e. when a woman who actually has abnormal cells on her cervix is told her results are normal) as high as 10-20% (14). In 1994, the case O'Shea v. Sullivan and others highlighted the fact that a negative Pap smear result did not necessarily mean that no abnormal cells were present.
It is estimated that even if every woman who is eligible regularly participated in a screening program, approximately 160 new cases of squamous cell cervical cancer would still be diagnosed each year (15). Some types of cervical cancer develop too rapidly for regular screening to spot them. However, reducing the screening interval to one year for all women would be extremely costly; it is estimated that this would increase the number of lives saved by only 1% but would cost approximately $7 million per life saved (16).
There are a number of ways in which women can improve the chances of having cervical abnormalities detected. A woman should firstly ensure that she has regular Pap smears. She needs to be aware of the possible symptoms of cervical cancer, such as unexpected bleeding and report any of these symptoms to her doctor. She should also make arrangements to be notified of the result of her Pap smear, regardless of whether it is positive or negative and ensure that any required follow-up treatment is carried out.
New developments in cervical screening
In February 1999 a Pap smear register was finally established in Queensland. The Queensland Health Pap Smear Register is a central database of Pap smears and related histology results for women in Queensland. The register will act as a back-up reminder service for women who are overdue for their regular Pap smear and as a safety net for women who require follow-up after an abnormal Pap smear. The register will also assist in monitoring participation in the cervical cancer screening program and identify groups that are being underscreened (17).
A number of new technological developments in cervical screening are now available to women at an additional cost to women as add-ons to conventional Pap smear screening. The first is automated slide preparation which involves the sample being placed into a bottle of fluid and then being fixed on to a slide by a machine at a laboratory. It is claimed that automated slide preparation provides a better sample of cells for analysis, eliminating clumping and unnecessary material such as mucus and blood. The second development is the automated examination of slides. This involves the Pap smear being analysed by an automated system and is designed to detect cell abnormalities missed by manual screening.
The National Screening Program's publication, Screening for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer explains "the place of the new technologies in routine screening is still unclear ... Their impact on the prevention of invasive cervical cancer is likely to be small whereas the impact on the cost of the screening program is likely to be considerable" (18).
Treatment for abnormal smear
Because the Pap smear test is designed to detect pre-cancerous changes in the cervical cells a 'positive' Pap smear does not usually mean that cancer is present. Treatment options depend largely upon the type and severity of the abnormality detected. Some abnormalities will only require repeat Pap smears, while others will need further tests and treatments. Further tests include a colposcopy, in which a microscope-like instrument called a colposcope is used to view the cervix and vagina. During a colposcopy a biopsy may also be performed. A biopsy involves the removal of a small sample of tissue from the abnormal areas of the cervix for laboratory testing.
Non-cancerous abnormal cell changes are classified into two levels, low and high grade lesions. It has been found that some low grade lesions return to normal without any further treatment (19). Therefore, women diagnosed with a low grade lesion may choose to monitor the abnormality through further Pap smears or, alternatively have it treated. Women with a high grade lesion (and women with low grade lesions who choose to) can have the abnormal cells removed in a number of ways. The cells can be destroyed through laser, diathermy (heat), or wire loop excision. A small number of women may require a cone biopsy which involves the removal of a cone shaped section of the cervix that contains the abnormal cells.
In the rare case that cervical cancer is detected, surgery, often followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is used to treat the cancer. The treatment and its success depends on what stage the cancer is detected at.
