Cervical smear is a simple procedure that can effectively reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. However, many women wonder if the smear test will be painful. I will provide detailed information on the cervical smear test process and cost, the best time for the smear test, how long it takes to get the cervical smear report, what to do if the cervical smear is inflamed, and more, to reduce your fears about the unknowns of cervical smears!
1. Why Should You Have a Cervical Smear?
Cervical cancer ranks among the top ten cancers in women and is also one of the projects subsidized by the Health Promotion Administration. It can reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer by 60%-90%, making it an important contributor to the prevention and control of cervical cancer.
(1) What is a Cervical Smear?
Cervical smear is also known as “Pap Smear,” which is a cervical examination (cervical cancer screening).
How is a smear test performed to detect cervical cancer?
A cervical smear uses a cervical examination to collect cells, smear them on a slide, and then examine them under a microscope to see if there are any suspicious cells, thus completing the cervical cancer screening.
People who are not familiar with a cervical smear may refer to it as a uterine smear, thinking that it is a uterine examination, which is a misconception! If you want to examine the uterus, you should arrange for an ultrasound or uterine examination separately.
(2) How Important is the Cervical Smear Test?
In outpatient clinics, we occasionally encounter patients with heavy vaginal bleeding or severe cervical erosion, and a single examination reveals advanced cervical cancer. Most of these patients have self-reported no cervical smear tests for ten or twenty years, or have never received one, so when serious symptoms occur, they have to seek medical attention, but it is already too late.
Since precancerous lesions or early stages of cervical cancer are often asymptomatic, we can only use annual cervical smear tests to observe whether there are any suspicious changes in cervical cells over the course of a year, in order to deal with them when cells are about to mutate into cancer cells, or to detect and treat them early.
(3) Who Needs a Smear Test?
Ninety percent of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV infection, which causes cell changes opportunistically. This is also the reason for abnormal cervical smears. Since HPV infection occurs through “sexual intercourse,” any woman who has had sexual intercourse needs to undergo a cervical smear test. HPV can remain latent in the body for as long as ten to twenty years, so even if you haven’t had sexual intercourse for a long time, regular check-ups are still recommended.
2. Smear Test Timing and Process
Since having had sexual intercourse requires a smear test, is it enough to have it done once? Or do you need to do it every year? Every month? Is the cervical smear test done internally? Will it be very painful?
(1) Smear Test Timing
Do not wait too long between smear tests, or they will lose their meaning as regular screenings. Of course, you don’t need to have a test every few months either. It is generally recommended that women who have had sexual intercourse should consider having a cervical smear test once a year.
Health Promotion Administration Subsidized Smear Test Timing
If you have National Health Insurance and are over 30 years old, the Health Promotion Administration subsidizes regular annual cervical smear screenings.
(2) Conditions for Cervical Smear Test
Can you have a smear test when your period is about to come? Can you have a smear test if you have a lot of discharge? Can you have a smear test during your period? What are the conditions for having a cervical smear test?
★ Conditions for Cervical Smear Examination
Have had sexual intercourse
A vaginal speculum will be placed during the smear test, and if you have not had sexual intercourse, the examination cannot be performed.
Clean menstrual period
During menstruation, it is difficult to effectively collect cells due to heavy bleeding, so the cervical smear test must be performed when the menstrual period is clean.
No severe vaginal inflammation
During severe infection, cells are inflamed and it may affect subsequent interpretation. It is recommended to undergo a cervical smear test after completing treatment.
(3) Smear Test Process
The smear test process is actually quite quick. The slogan “six minutes to protect your life” is true, and sometimes it may not even take six minutes. Here’s a brief introduction to the cervical smear test process!
- Remove lower body clothing, including outer pants and underwear, and lie on the examination table as instructed by the medical staff.
- The examiner (doctor or nurse) will insert a vaginal speculum.
- The examiner will collect cells from the cervix using a smear brush and smear them on a slide.
- The examination is completed.
(4) Notes for Smear Test
★ Notes for Smear Test
- If you are eligible for Health Promotion Administration subsidies, please confirm if it has been at least one year since your last smear test before the examination.
- If you are eligible for Health Promotion Administration subsidies, be sure to bring your health insurance card for the smear test.
- Do not wash the vagina or use suppositories before the smear test to avoid affecting the results.
- Make sure to have the smear test when your menstrual period is clean.
★ Notes After Smear Test
- Since cells are collected using a smear brush, a small amount of bleeding after a cervical smear test is normal.
- Do not wash the vagina after the smear test to avoid infection.
- After the smear test, please pay attention to the report notification for follow-up.
- The purpose of the smear test is screening, not treatment.
- Even if you have received the cervical cancer vaccine, you still need to undergo regular cervical smear tests.
3. Cervical Smear Test Cost
The cost of a cervical smear test is very affordable. We divide the cost of a cervical smear into two parts: eligible for Health Promotion Administration subsidies and not eligible for Health Promotion Administration subsidies. If you are eligible for Health Promotion Administration subsidies, the cost of a cervical smear test is free (or only the hospital registration fee needs to be paid); if it is self-pay, the price of a cervical smear test is about NT$1000 to NT$2000.
| Cervical Smear Test Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Smear Test Cost | Smear Test Timing | Notes | |
| Eligible for Health Promotion Administration Subsidies | Pay registration fee or completely free (NT$0) | Once a year | Health Promotion Administration Subsidy Eligibility: 1. Over 30 years old 2. Hold NHI Qualification |
| Self-pay Smear Test | NT$500-NT$1500 (depending on the hospital’s fee standards) | Once a year | Regardless of age, it is recommended to consider the test as soon as you start having sexual intercourse |
4. Cervical Smear Report: What to Do if Cervical Smear Shows Inflammation?
After completing a cervical smear, the most important thing is to wait for the report. To enhance everyone’s willingness to undergo examinations, the current cervical smear test report inquiry at medical institutions is quite convenient, and you can even obtain the report without having to personally visit the hospital, such as through postal delivery of the cervical smear test report.
(1) How Long Does It Take for the Cervical Smear Test Report to Be Ready?
After the completion of cell sampling for the smear test, it needs to go through processes such as cell staining, interpretation, and report writing. Therefore, a cervical smear test report generally takes about one week of working days to complete. If sent by mail, additional time for packaging and delivery is required, and you can expect to receive the cervical smear test report within a month after the examination is completed.
(2) Cervical Smear Test Results
The results of a cervical smear test are presented to the public in a relatively simple manner and generally fall into the following categories:
- Cervical Smear Negative
- Cervical Smear Inflammation
- Cervical Smear Abnormalities
- Insufficient Cervical Smear Cells
Many people become anxious when they see that their cervical smear test shows inflammation and start asking what to do if the cervical smear test shows inflammation. However, cervical smear inflammation is quite common and does not require excessive worry. But if abnormal smears are observed, it is important to return to the clinic promptly for further evaluation and arrangements for additional tests.
| Preliminary Interpretation of Cervical Smear Test Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervical Smear Test Result | Interpretation | What to Do? | Notes |
| Cervical Smear Negative | Normal | Regular screening after one year | None |
| Cervical Smear Inflammation | Inflammatory response in cervical cells | Return for assessment to determine if medication is needed | Inflammatory reactions are mostly due to common vaginal infections. There is no need to worry excessively, and medication should be taken as directed |
| Cervical Smear Abnormalities | Variation in cervical cells | Return promptly for further examination | If changing hospitals for examination, be sure to request a detailed smear report for the physician’s reference |
| Insufficient Cervical Smear Cells | Too few cells collected for interpretation | Return for a second collection | After the second collection at the original examining hospital, wait for the report |
