Why do a smear for cytology. smear for cytology. Indications, preparation, decoding. What does a smear for oncocytology show

To date, the main way to examine the internal female organs is a smear for cytology, which shows the development of infections and dangerous pathologies. It differs from other types of laboratory research in a special set of dyes and fixatives, which increase the reliability of the final results.

What is a cytology smear

Cytological Papanicolaou, Pap test) is a laboratory microscopic examination of the upper ball of the cervix, designed for the timely diagnosis of cancer. This method is the most painless, simple and fastest among all known methods of examination.

Purpose of analysis

In order to prevent and prevent the development of dangerous diseases, the cytology of a smear from the cervical canal is done to every woman. This analysis allows you to identify violations in the cellular structure of the cervix that cause the development of cancer. To avoid possible pathologies, all women should regularly visit a gynecologist. If changes occur, they are fixed at an early stage, when the disease is treatable, and full recovery is still possible.

In addition to cellular pathologies, a cytology smear allows you to evaluate the mucous membrane and determines the presence of harmful microorganisms in the vagina. The PAP test is the exact data of these parameters, so in such cases it is necessary to use additional methods of analysis.

Indications for Pap test

A smear is prescribed to all women after 18 years of age during a routine examination by a gynecologist once a year. Also indications for analysis are: violation of menstruation, the presence of papillomavirus and genital herpes, free sexual intercourse, infertility, the use of hormonal contraceptives, the establishment of an intrauterine device, pregnancy planning. Infectious diseases often also serve as a reason to take a smear for cytology. What the result shows can only be determined by a specialist.

Risk group

Regardless of age, there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing cancer. With prolonged action on the female body, they weaken the immune system. This risk group includes women who have many sexual partners, smoke, have weak immunity, are carriers of viruses, have begun sexual activity at an early age, and have had cancer of the reproductive system in the past.

How a smear is made

To obtain reliable results, a woman should stop taking antibiotics a week before the analysis. The day before the study, you need to stop douching and put vaginal suppositories and have sexual intercourse.

A smear is taken on a chair during an examination by a gynecologist. The doctor takes 3 smears: from the walls of the vagina, from and from the mouth of the paraurethral passages. This procedure is completely painless. To take a smear, a gynecological mirror and a spatula are used. To prevent objects from being cold and not creating discomfort, they can be heated with hot water before use.

At the next stage, the doctor applies the test material to a special glass, on which a laboratory analysis of the smear for cytology will already be carried out under a microscope.

Interpretation of the results of the study

The last and most important stage of the study is the transcription of the smear for cytology. According to the analysis, the doctor can obtain information about the state of the epithelium, the presence of inflammation and the composition of the microflora. In modern medical practice, the Papanicolaou technique is widely used to decipher the results of a smear, according to which 5 stages of the development of pathologies are distinguished.

Stage 1 - there are no abnormalities, cytology is normal. This stage indicates the health of a woman.

Stage 2 - during a routine examination or in the presence of complaints, a woman takes a smear for cytology, which shows a slight change in the structure of the cells. It is caused by inflammation of the internal genital organs. This stage is also considered the norm, but more thorough research is still required to establish the causes of the disease.

Stage 3 - a small number of cells with anomalies in the structure of the nuclei were found. In this case, it is necessary to take a second smear and conduct a histological examination of the tissue.

Stage 4 - during the analysis, cells with malignant changes can be detected. For example, an increased mass of nuclei, changes in the cytoplasm and chromosomes. The result obtained is not a final diagnosis, but serves as a reason for further examination.

Stage 5 - in smears are present in large quantities.

Deciphering a smear for cytology may take some time. It usually takes a few days, but there are times when you have to wait a week for results.

The reliability of the results of the Papanicolaou method is very high, especially when a smear is examined for cervical cytology. But this analysis does not provide any information about the state of the uterus itself, ovaries and fallopian tubes. There are cases when the PAP test gives false data. Therefore, for an accurate interpretation of the results, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination.

Positive results: types of pathologies

If the data obtained from the study correspond to the norms, then no deviations have been identified, and the woman is healthy. In the case of positive results, the development of pathology takes place.

The detection of abnormal cells does not always indicate the presence of cancer. Often during the Pap test, dangerous infectious diseases are detected.

1. Papillomavirus infection - the formation of genital warts in the vagina and on the cervix. This virus is very dangerous for women's health.

2. Chlamydia - the most common. Basically, this disease occurs without severe symptoms. In addition, it is difficult to diagnose it in the laboratory. This complicates treatment, and its absence threatens with serious complications.

3. Trichomoniasis is a popular sexually transmitted disease. The main symptoms of the disease: itching, yellow-green discharge, discomfort during urination and during sexual intercourse. Timely diagnosis of pathology allows you to completely cure the disease.

4. Gonorrhea - an infectious disease of the genitourinary system. The chronic form of the disease is often the cause of infertility in women.

5. A yeast infection is an overgrowth of a fungus that lives in the vagina. For some reason, its reproduction is out of control, and inflammation occurs. It is accompanied by irritation and itching, white discharge with a characteristic odor.

If the result of the smear test is positive due to the presence of an infection, the identified diseases should be treated. Very often it is difficult to determine cancer precisely because of viruses. Therefore, after a course of therapy, it is necessary to repeat the analysis in order to obtain more accurate data.

Depending on the pathology, sometimes it is necessary to take a repeated smear for cytology, which shows the dynamics of changes in the structure of cells over a certain period.

Pap smear collection during pregnancy

At the slightest suspicion of the presence of infections and fungi harmful to the fetus, cytology is often used. The inflammatory type of smear allows you to diagnose pathological processes if a woman complains of burning and itching of the external genital organs, changes in the color and smell of discharge. To analyze the state of the microflora of the vagina in pregnant women, a smear for cytology is done at least three times. If necessary, the doctor may order additional Pap tests.

The Pap test for pregnant women is carried out according to the usual technology.

Possible complications after taking a smear

Taking a smear for cytology should be done by a specialist doctor who knows the technique of this process. After performing a Pap test, some complications are possible. Most often they are manifested by severe pain after manipulation and bloody discharge during the day or a little longer. These symptoms are considered quite normal and do not require treatment. If after the study there are severe abdominal pain, fever and chills, you should consult a doctor.

Cytology with improper sampling also sometimes has dangerous consequences. With gross intervention, stenosis provoked by adhesions can develop. For this reason, it is not customary to take a prophylactic smear in deep places of the cervical canal.

Within a week after the Pap test, intimate relationships, douching and the use of tampons should be abandoned.

A cytological smear is considered the best method for detecting cervical cancer in the early stages of development. But even the best laboratories sometimes fail to detect cellular changes. Therefore, for a greater likelihood of detecting pathology, you need to take a smear annually.

Cytology of the cervix is ​​a laboratory study that determines the cellular structure of the cervix uteri (cervix), as well as the cells of the cervical canal. One of the variants of cervical cytology was first used at the beginning of the 20th century by a Greek scientist Papanikolaou for the purpose of early detection and prevention of oncological diseases in gynecology.

Since then, the PAP test has been used everywhere along with a new method - ThinPrep (liquid cytology), which allows timely detection and effective treatment of latent chronic and precancerous diseases of the cervix.

, , , ,

Indications for carrying out

The main task that cytology of the cervix solves is the prevention of the oncological process. Early detection of atypical cells makes it possible to stop cervical cancer (cervical cancer) in time, which, according to statistics, is in third place among the most common oncopathologies in women. The danger of an asymptomatic course of the disease is great, so the main goal of the procedure is the timely detection of precancerous changes in cells. This makes it possible not only to increase the percentage and survival time, but also a confident hope for a successful cure. The PAP method in the practice of gynecology is considered one of the fastest and most accurate for obtaining data on the presence or absence of the initial stages of oncological processes, cancers or underlying pathologies of non-tumor etiology that can provoke life-threatening cancer. Many doctors call cervical cytology the "gold standard" for diagnosing and screening for such intraepithelial changes and conditions:

• Various cellular anomalies of high or low degree.
• The presence or absence of pathogenic microflora for the diagnosis of the state of the mucous membrane of the cervix.
• Violations of the normal rhythm of the menstrual cycle (frequency of the cycle, its delay or absence).
• All types of diseases of viral origin - HPV (human papillomavirus) - warts, Herpes simplex genital (herpes).
• Infertility (infertility).
• Defects of the mucous membrane of the cervix (all types of erosion).
• A long cycle of therapy with hormonal drugs.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge, including blood, especially after sexual intercourse.

Cervical cytology is needed as a screening test if:

• Planned pregnancy
• Births occur several times in a row (for example, 3-4 times within 4 years).
• The first birth occurred at an early age (up to 18 years).
• A woman often changes sexual partners.
• Planned contraception in the format of an intrauterine device.
• Previously, cytology has never been performed, or the woman has not been examined for the last 3 years.
• The last sampling of tissue material does not meet the standards or identified changes in the cells.
• Examination of the cervix with a mirror shows visible pathological changes (color, structure).
• The woman was diagnosed with diseases associated with immunodeficiency (HIV).
• Family history is aggravated by oncological diseases (one of the direct relatives was ill or is currently ill with oncological disease).

In general, an annual screening cytology examination should be mandatory for every woman who has reached the age of majority. If the cytology of the cervix shows pronounced clinical deviations of the cellular material, the examination should be carried out more often - at least 2 times a year or in the mode of a comprehensive therapeutic plan.

Training

Preparation, which involves the cytology of the cervix, does not belong to the category of complex. The procedure itself takes place very quickly, with virtually no discomfort and discomfort, and the preparation consists in the following steps:

• Exclude sanitation (hygienic procedures) in the form of douching
• A few days before the procedure (2-3 days) you should adhere to the regimen of abstinence in intimate life
• Do not use hygienic tampons, tablets, liquids, creams, suppositories and vaginal gels
• 2 hours before the test, a woman should refrain from urinating

In order for cervical cytology to show a reliable result, it is important to know the following information:

• Pap test and menstrual cycle are not compatible. The procedure is carried out 3-5 days before the onset of menstruation or after them, it is best to do this on the 10-12th day of the cycle.
• Cytology will not be accurate in any infectious disease, especially in the acute phase, as a rule, the analysis is carried out after basic treatment. An exception is the need to obtain a cito result, in which case, cervical cytology is performed twice - during illness and after 2 months for cytological control.
• A smear during intravaginal therapy will not be informative, it should be done 5-7 days after the end of treatment.
• It is not recommended to take tissue material during inflammatory processes in the vagina, the indicators of which may be discharge, itching, burning.

Clarifications of the conditions for preparing for the procedure can be obtained from the attending gynecologist.

Technique

Cytology of the cervix is ​​considered a mandatory procedure for a comprehensive gynecological examination. This is a standard that allows you to timely identify the risks of many diseases, including cancer.

The gynecologist makes a scraping from the outer part of the cervix (exocervix), as well as from the surface of the vaginal mucosa with a special spatula (Ayre spatula). The cells of the cervical canal (cervical canal) are taken with the help of an endobrush - a cervical probe, which makes it possible to obtain a sufficient amount of informative material.

Also, the doctor can use the following tools to collect cellular material:

• For a smear of the posterior fornix of the neck - Eyre's spatula.
• Aspiration tool - spirette, for sampling endocervical material.
• The screen is also designed to take biological material from the cervical canal.
• Cervex-Brush is a sterile medical brush for taking a smear from the T-zone (the surface of the cervix and cervical canal).
• Standard tweezers.
• Gynecological mirror.
• Cervical double-sided spoon (Volkmann's spoon) for a smear on the microflora of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal and the determination of infectious diseases.

All modern instruments are sterile, most of them are used individually for each woman.

Cytology technique:

• Examination on a gynecological chair with the help of mirrors, at the same time, material is taken for cytology. The walls of the vagina are expanded, the smear procedure (scraping) can cause short-term mild discomfort, but most often the cytology is painless.
• Simultaneously with the scraping, material for bacteriological examination (microflora) is also taken. Together with cytology, colposcopy can be performed, but this happens only according to indications, usually this procedure is prescribed separately.
• Samples of the material are applied to a special glass, fixed, fixed and transferred to the laboratory assistant for accurate microscopic examination using staining. There is also a new method of cytology of the cervix - liquid (ThinPrep), in this case, the material is placed in a flask and also transferred to the laboratory.

Analysis labeling is very important. The laboratory should receive glass with the material and a special form, which indicates the following information:

1. Glass number in accordance with the direction number of the form.
2. The name of the medical facility where the procedure was performed.
3. Date of analysis.
4. Name of the patient.
5. Patient's age.
6. Numbers, dates of the last menstrual cycle.
7. Provisional (clinical) diagnosis.

Cytology of the cervix does not take much time, the whole procedure lasts no more than 10-15 minutes.

What does the cytology of the cervix show?

The main indicators of cervical cytology are in a nutshell - a negative or positive result, in other words, the test shows whether there are signs of cancer, infectious, bacterial, viral pathology in the smear.

Let's take a closer look at what the analysis shows:

1. A negative result means that the epithelial cells are not affected by pathological processes, pathogenic flora is not detected, the cell structure is not destroyed by viruses
2. Positive indicators indicate that abnormal cells were found in the mucous membrane of the cervix, their structure and number go beyond the standard norms. Atypical cellular elements can be diverse in shape, type and size, respectively, the interpretation of the analysis is directly related to these criteria.

In modern gynecological practice, the classification of results from the author of the test, the Papanicolaou technique, is considered traditional for use. The PAP-smear test method involves a detailed description of the composition and structure of cells, dividing them into 5 categories:

• Stage I - no cellular changes were found, there is no atypia, which indicates a practically healthy state of the cervix. The cytological picture is within the normal range
• Stage II - the test found a number of abnormal cells with signs of inflammation, which can be considered a relative norm, given the prevalence of inflammatory processes in the genital area. As a rule, a woman is prescribed additional diagnostic procedures to clarify the cause, nature, stage and causative agent of inflammation.
• Stage III - analysis shows the presence of a small number of locally grouped atypical cells with abnormalities in the structure of the nucleus or cytoplasm. This is also not a direct indication of a threatening pathology, but it may be a signal of the risk of developing an oncological process. An additional procedure that refines the PAP test may be a morphological analysis of the tissue material of the cervix (histology). A biopsy helps eliminate risks or confirm the onset of a pathological process that can be stopped with timely treatment.
• Stage IV analysis shows a clear picture of malignant transformations of a small number of cells. As a rule, abnormal cells have too large a nuclear mass, cellular contents (cytoplasm), chromosomes also show signs of pathological changes. This stage indicates the possible onset of cancer (dysplasia). Additional examinations help to clarify the diagnosis - colposcopy, sampling of material for histology, and repeated cytology is also possible.
• Stage V-test determines a fairly large number of altered cells, which indicates the presence of an oncological process. In such cases, the results of cytology are the beginning of a comprehensive diagnostic process aimed at determining the type of oncology, its stage and the vector of therapeutic measures.

Deciphering the results

Only the attending physician can and should interpret the test results. Any information obtained in the bowels of the Internet can only be introductory and primary. The following data is publicly available and will help reduce the anxiety of women who are afraid of incomprehensible numbers and characters in the analysis.

Cytology of the cervix according to statistics reveals the following:

• Every ninth test out of ten determines the norm, that is, the next cytology can be safely carried out in 1-2 years for the prevention and screening of the cervix. The analysis should be repeated regularly, despite a good result, since it cannot be 100% accurate and does not completely eliminate the risk of diseases.
• Every second out of a hundred smears is not fully informative due to the lack of biological or cellular material. In such cases, cervical cytology is repeated
• Every twentieth test shows the presence of atypical changes, but this does not at all indicate a developed oncological process. Rather, it is a signal and a reason for a more thorough examination and subsequent treatment.
• The test result may show poor performance, but this cannot be considered an unambiguous and final diagnosis. To clarify the nature of the pathological process and its prognosis, additional examinations are required, which are prescribed by the doctor.

Deciphering the results of the cytogram can be carried out by different methods. The Papanicolaou classifier is classic, but in modern gynecology it is also customary to take into account other options for interpreting the test, for example, the American Bethesda System.

Information on the state of the epithelial tissue of the cervix can be reflected in the following table:

Also, you can be disturbed by the Latin abbreviation in the analysis form, although in fact everything is deciphered simply, according to the “territory” of the material sampling:

• The urethra is the letter U.
• Endocervix, cervical canal - C.
• The vagina is the letter V.

The attending physician will provide you with the rest of the information.

, , , , , , , , , ,

Norms of cytology of the cervix

The norm in the cytology of the cervix is ​​the complete absence of atypical changes in the cellular material, as well as the healthy state of the microflora. "Good" cells must meet the norms according to morphological standards, that is, in size, content (structure) and shape. The cytogram describes in detail the material taken from the surface layer of the cervix and from the endocervix.

The norms of cytological examination look like this:

1. Cytology of the cervix contains cells of a single-layer cylindrical epithelium. Alternatively, the test may show the presence of stratified epithelium (metaplastic), this is also considered normal if the smear was taken in the transition area into the vagina.
2. Stratified epithelial cells in a smear from the area of ​​the vaginal part of the cervix are also considered normal if no changes are found in them.
3. Any deviations from the norm, changes in cell morphology are described in the conclusion and may be indicators of primary inflammatory processes that fit within the normal range.
4. Deviations from the norms in the PAP test do not mean the presence of an oncological process, with the exception of the HSIL indicator. This indicates a high risk of developing cancer.

It should also be borne in mind that there are indicators indicating benign cell abnormalities. This, of course, is not the norm, but it cannot be a reason for increased anxiety about oncology.

The list of changes within the relative norm that cytology can show:

• Atypia of inflammatory etiology.
• Atypical changes provoked by the papilloma virus.
• Mixed atypical changes.
• Atypical deviations of an unclear nature that require clarification.

The processes in which there may be deviations from the normal boundaries include the following diseases:

• HPV is the human papillomavirus.
• Herpes.
• Pregnancy.
• Long-term use of drugs, especially antibiotics.
• The use of contraceptives (candles, tablets).
• Contraception with a spiral.

According to the classification of Trout and Papanicolaou, the first 2 out of five classes can be considered the norm of cervical cytology, namely:

• I - normal cytological picture
• II - ASC-US or presence of atypical cells, unspecified

Poor cytology of the cervix

What do bad Pap test results mean?

Poor cervical cytology does not necessarily indicate the last stage of cancer. An exact decoding of the study can only be given by a specialist, that is, a gynecologist. According to the generally accepted classification, poor cytology is pathological changes in the epithelial layer of the cervix and cervical canal.

According to the generally accepted methodology, changes are indicated as follows:

• 0 - the material for the test is unsatisfactory (poor quality, in small quantities, uninformative due to insufficient patient preparation).
• Grade 1 is the norm.
• Grade 2 - the presence of atypical deviations.
• Grade 3 - various degrees of dysplasia.
• Grade 4 - precancerous condition, initial stage.
• Grade 5 - invasive cancer.

Grade 5 is considered the most alarming of the above changes, but any form of dysplasia is also a dangerous signal. Consider the types of dysplasia in more detail:

1. A mild degree of dysplasia is a sign of an inflammatory process that has begun. It should not be skipped, since the inflammation can proceed almost asymptomatically and in the future go into a more severe form.
2. Moderate dysplasia is already a threatening signal, indicating that the risk of developing an oncoprocess is very high.
3. A severe degree of dysplasia is almost a precancerous condition.

Undiagnosed dysplasia, along with other provoking factors, can lead to a really dangerous condition - an oncoprocess.

Any woman, having learned that the cytology of the cervix shows a poor result, is afraid. Let's try to reduce its level a little with the help of informing.

What if the test showed the presence of obvious atypical cells?

First of all, do not panic, but listen and follow all the doctor's prescriptions. The gynecologist usually conducts a detailed consultation, both about additional diagnostic procedures, and about the prospect of treatment and the prognosis of the disease.

Usually the following events are appointed and held:

• Repeat cytology of the cervix.
• Biopsy (histological analysis of the tissue of the affected area of ​​the cervix).
• Curettage of the epithelium of the cervix.
• An extended blood test.
• HPV test.
• If dysplasia is detected, it is treated (more often with the help of cauterization).
• If a concomitant viral infection is determined, not only the woman is treated, but also her sexual partner.

Timely diagnosis and adequate treatment give hope for a cure, subject to compliance with all doctor's prescriptions and regular monitoring of the condition of the cervix.

How many days is cervical cytology done?

Cytology of the cervix is ​​considered a standard procedure, the technology of which has been worked out to the smallest detail. The sampling period does not exceed 15-20 minutes, including a general gynecological examination. Further, the analysis is transferred to the laboratory, where a longer period of time is already required for accurate and thorough microscopic examination. If the PAP test was carried out according to all the rules, the processing of the material will take about 8 days. The result can be obtained from the attending physician 2 weeks after the procedure itself, sometimes it happens faster if the analysis is carried out in cito mode. It also happens that information about test scores may come later. This is most often associated with additional fences, for example, a biochemical analysis of the secret for microflora or a biopsy according to indications.

Histological studies and colposcopy can be scheduled on the same day as cytology, and their processing will take a little longer than working on a single Pap test. Such comprehensive diagnostic measures allow you to get a complete, detailed picture and make it possible to more accurately determine the course of treatment.

In conclusion, we note that the cytology of the cervix should be a mandatory procedure for every woman. Reducing the incidence of cancer is still an unresolved task, both for doctors and for women themselves. Timely, regular examinations, analyzes and tests will allow you to be confident in your own health. To keep all the functions of the genital area in a state of harmony - this task can be solved, including with the help of preventive measures, among which the cytology of the cervix occupies an important place.

Every year the number of oncological diseases of the reproductive system in women is growing. Every woman is susceptible to cervical cancer. The main thing is to diagnose the disease in the early stages. You can identify the disease by passing a smear test for cytology. But what does a cytology smear show and why is it so necessary?

A cytological smear analysis is indicated for all women who have reached the age of 18 and are sexually active in order to exclude cervical cancer. This analysis must be taken every year, during a scheduled visit to the gynecologist.

In order to get good results, you need to know when to take a smear for cytology:

• Correctly chosen day of delivery of the analysis. Do not take the test before or after your period. The most favorable days are 13-21 days.
• Taking a smear for cytology should be carried out correctly. The fact is that the cervix is ​​​​covered with single-layer epithelial cells. Taking it for analysis, the result will not be informative. To do this, you need to take the cells located a little deeper.
• No inflammation. The inflammation is located on the walls of the vagina, when taking a smear, it can be touched, and the inflammation, especially if there is pus, will pass into the uterus, causing complications.

Taking a smear for cytology during pregnancy is not performed. After childbirth, when the uterus comes into tone, you need to see a doctor and take a cytology test.

What does cytology analysis show?

A smear test for cytology shows the state of the cells of the cervix. During a gynecological examination, a special brush is used to collect cells in the cervical region.

What does cytology analysis show? From this smear, the size of the cells, their number and shape are assessed. Healthy cells should have the correct shape and size, and not be atypical.

If the interpretation of the smear results for cytology showed that atypical cells are contained along with healthy cells, then a diagnosis of "atypical forms" is made and a second study is prescribed. Atypical cells - cells that are irregular in shape and structure, divide randomly and very quickly.

Read about other types of women's examinations. The doctor may additionally prescribe hormonal studies after analyzing the cytology. Details in this article.

Diagnosis of dysplasia

If a repeated smear confirmed the presence of atypical cells, then a diagnosis of dysplasia is made. There are several degrees of aplasia:

• Grade I does not require any treatment. Only constant supervision by a gynecologist is recommended.
• Grade II requires a biopsy. After it is carried out, "cauterization" of the pathological area is done, which should stop the development of the pathological process.
• Grade III does not require urgent surgical intervention. The operation is based on the removal of the affected area of ​​the cervix and its delivery for histological examination. Histology should show whether cancer cells are forming. In fact, dysplasia is a precancerous condition that can be cured if it is diagnosed in a timely manner.

If a smear for cytology showed inflammation, you need to pass another analysis, for the microflora of the vagina, which will show what caused the inflammation and what pathogen caused it.

It is not recommended to prescribe treatment without this analysis, since inflammation in the vagina is treated with antibiotics, and antibiotics are not very useful for the body.

This analysis will allow you to choose an antibiotic that is minimally harmful to the body, affecting only this pathogen.

This is the important information that a cytology smear shows. You should not take an analysis more than once a year, for the sole reason that cervical cancer develops very slowly. What does a cytology smear mean for a woman? He guarantees her healthy life and hope for the health of her future children.

A vaginal cytology smear (Pap smear, Pap test, smear for atypical cells) is a laboratory microscopic examination that allows you to identify abnormalities in the cells of the cervix.

What does a cytology smear show?

In a cytological smear, the size, shape, number and nature of the location of cells are evaluated, which makes it possible to diagnose background, precancerous and cancerous diseases of the cervix.

What are the indications for taking a smear for cytology?

This analysis is prescribed to all women from the age of 18 once a year, as well as for:

• pregnancy planning;
• infertility;
• violation of the menstrual cycle;
• genital herpes;
• obesity
• human papillomavirus;
• taking hormonal contraceptives;
• a large number of sexual partners.
• before setting the intrauterine device;

How to prepare for research?

Before visiting a gynecologist for testing, you should:

• refrain from sexual intercourse for 1-2 days;
• do not use vaginal preparations (creams, suppositories, lubricants) and do not douche for 2 days;
• before taking a smear for cytology, it is recommended not to urinate for 2-3 hours;
• It is not recommended to give a smear for cytology in the presence of symptoms such as itching and vaginal discharge.

It is advisable to take a smear for cytology immediately after menstruation, on day 4-5 of the cycle.

How is a smear taken for cytology?

A smear is taken during a gynecological examination with a special disposable small brush from the outer and inner surfaces of the cervix. The procedure for taking a smear is painless and takes 5-10 seconds.

Can there be any discomfort after a smear for cytology?

Since the doctor does a scraping during cell sampling, some may have slight spotting from the vagina for 1-2 days.

How many days to prepare a smear for cytology?

1 business day.

How is the result of a cytology smear evaluated?

A smear is considered normal or negative when all cells are of normal size and shape and there are no abnormal cells.

To describe a smear for cytology, doctors use special terms: dysplasia of 1, 2, 3 degrees, atypia. With dysplasia of the 1st degree, it is necessary to repeat the study after 3-6 months.

What to do if pathological cells are found in a smear for cytology?

In this case, the doctor recommends an additional examination. This may be as simple as repeating a cytology smear some time after the first result. Sometimes a colposcopy with a cervical biopsy is prescribed to clarify the diagnosis, based on the results of which a decision is made on the method of treatment.

Cytology in gynecology is important, and therefore every woman, regardless of her age, should constantly and regularly visit a gynecologist and take a smear for cytology. These manipulations are carried out by a doctor after a preliminary examination of the patient.

What does such a smear show? In a smear for cytology, the doctor is able to see the condition of the uterus and mucous membranes, and also determine the possibility of oncology and inflammation. If a cytology smear showed that there is inflammation or another gynecological disease and the result is generally poor, then appropriate therapy or additional tests are prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.

How a smear is taken for microflora research, as well as what precedes a cytological disease, will be described below. It is also worth noting that it is necessary to take an atrophic type of smear for cytology and conduct its study only in a hospital and in a laboratory. The results of cytology are mandatory reported to the patient.

Due to the fact that a woman does not conduct such testing on time, and also because of the complexity of the diagnosis itself, time can sometimes be lost and treatment started at the wrong time. This complicates the whole therapy.

Also, a woman may not go to the doctor, as she does not experience any negative symptoms. Often the cytology of the cervix is ​​determined only during a thorough examination. With the help of a smear, cytology can be detected at an early stage. Only a specialized doctor is engaged in the study of such a disease.

Usually a smear for flora and cytology can show all changes in the uterus and mucous membranes. When the doctor notices such changes, he immediately prescribes the appropriate therapy or additional testing.

After the study, the doctor can make a conclusion. There are usually two options here. First, when the result is positive, it means that inflammation and atrophy of cells occur in the uterus. The second is when the result is negative. In this case, the woman is healthy and will not require treatment.

Experts advise to carry out an inflammatory type of smear for cytology once or twice a year. Also, during such an examination, other pathologies in the vagina can be detected, which will make it possible to start treating them in time and prevent the development of complications or the manifestation of oncology.

When should you take a pap smear?

In order for every woman to be confident in her health, it is necessary to take a smear constantly. But not everyone does this. Therefore, the doctors have identified indications in which it is mandatory to visit a specialized doctor. This:

• Violation of the menstrual cycle.
• Infection in the uterus.
• Planning for conception.
• Carrying out the operation.
• Spiral installation.

There are also risk groups. When a woman belongs to such, she should also regularly visit a gynecologist and conduct examinations with him. These are the groups:

• With obesity.
• With diabetes.
• With genital herpes.

When a woman constantly changes sex partners, and also takes hormonal contraceptives, or she just has a weak immune system, then she should also think about passing such tests. You can refuse such examinations only in one case - when a young woman does not have sex and she did not undergo a hysterectomy.

Training

To determine if there is a cytology of the cervix, such examinations should be carried out regularly. The best period for this, as doctors say, is the 15-20th cycle. But it is worth taking a smear only after the menstruation stops. When a colposcopy was previously performed, you can take a smear on the second day.

To get the most accurate and reliable result, it is worth preparing for such a procedure. For this you need:

• Do not have sex two days before testing.
• Do not drink antibiotics for 7 days.
• Refuse to take drugs that can affect the uterine flora. It can be sprays or candles. Also, do not use different lubricants.

Two hours before the procedure itself, you should not visit the toilet. This will require a little patience.

Sampling process

The ascus procedure is performed in the gynecologist's office on a chair. For testing, you need to prepare a spatula, a mirror and a brush. In 10-15 minutes, the doctor should take three smears. These are the strokes:

• from the walls of the uterus.
• From the cervix.
• From the cervical canal.

Usually such an event does not cause negative feelings in the patient. But there are two points to pay attention to:

• If there is inflammation in the uterus, then any intervention can cause pain.
• For full testing and accurate results, it is important to take those tissues that are deeper, and not on top. Therefore, the doctor will have to carry out with some effort along the mucous membrane and pinch off part of it. This can usually cause discomfort.

Important! A certain category of women after taking such samples may feel discomfort when emitting urine. But there is nothing to worry about. These symptoms will quickly go away on their own. If they persist for a long time, then you should consult a doctor.

The tissues obtained in this way are dried and sent to the laboratory for testing. There they are examined by a specialist under a microscope.

What can testing show?

When the doctor takes a smear, the laboratory assistant must carefully examine it. In doing so, he draws attention to the following points:

1. epithelium.
2. Cell size.
3. Location of cells.
4. The number of elements in the stroke.
5. Structure changes.

After testing, the doctor makes a conclusion and gives the result to the patient. Usually, it may take 1-2 days to conclude and study the results.

The doctor may issue a conclusion to the patient with the following results:

• Negative. No pathologies were found and the patient is healthy.
• Inflammatory. Additional tests are ordered to find out the cause of the infection. After 2-3 weeks, the woman is sent for re-testing.
• abnormal cells. This will require microbiological testing. The result can be done according to the received data. Here, too, after a while, the woman will need to pass additional tests.
• Oncology. Other methods are prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.

Doctors also say that tissue test results can only show what changes are happening in the body. Therefore, the diagnosis is made only on such results. If the doctor suspects a disease, then he prescribes an additional examination.

What causes cell change?

The consequence of this pathology can be various ailments. The most common cause is thrush. There are also other diseases. This:

1. Chlamydia.
2. papillomas.
3. Gonorrhea.
4. Trichomoniasis.

With the help of a smear, the doctor can only see certain changes that have occurred in the body. If such are identified, then other tests are required to make an accurate diagnosis.

Pregnancy and smear

During gestation, a smear can be taken at least three times throughout the entire period. In this state, it is important for the doctor to identify not only cytology when taking a smear, but also to determine the presence of other pathologies, if any, in the body.