Cervical Screening. Understanding cervical smear test results. Taku hauora, taku tinana, taku tumanako My health, my body, my future

Transcription

1 Cervical Screening Understanding cervical smear test results Taku hauora, taku tinana, taku tumanako My health, my body, my future

2 Cervical smear test results A cervical smear test shows if there are abnormal changes in the cells on the surface of the cervix. Most results are normal and reported as satisfactory, but some show abnormal changes. Often these changes will return to normal on their own. In a small number of cases, abnormal cells can develop into cervical cancer if they are not treated. The human papillomavirus Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common, sexually transmitted infection. There is no medication for HPV infections, but most infections will clear on their own. A few high-risk types of HPV may lead to abnormal (precancerous) cells. Abnormal cell changes caused by HPV can be detected by screening and removed during follow-up treatment. The types of HPV that cause genital warts are not the same types that cause cervical cancer. Your smear taker will discuss with you having an HPV test. If abnormal cell changes persist or you have a history of previous abnormal smear results, you will be referred for colposcopy.

3 How often should I have cervical smear tests? If you are aged between 20 to 69, you should have a cervical smear test every three years, providing your test results continue to be normal. If this is your first cervical smear test, or if you have not had one for five years, you will need to have another cervical smear in one year. If that test is normal, you should have a test every three years after that. If you have had abnormal smear test results, you will need to have a smear test more often than every three years. Your smear taker or specialist will advise you when to have your next smear. How accurate are cervical smear tests? Screening tests are not perfect. There is always a small chance that some abnormal cells may not be found by the test. These abnormal changes to the cervical cells progress very slowly. It is very likely that any abnormal cells that are missed will be picked up at the next test. There is also a small chance that a result will say that abnormal cells have been found when the cervix is quite normal. A further cervical smear test or colposcopy will show that the cells are normal. Ma te mohio ka ora Knowledge improves health and well-being

4 What What the different the different results results mean mean Normal Normal Results Results No atypical No atypical or abnormal abnormal changes changes were detected. were detected. Unsatisfactory Unsatisfactory results results Unsatisfactory Unsatisfactory results mean results that mean the that test the could test not could be read not be read at the laboratory at the laboratory because because not enough not enough cells were cells on were the on the slide, or slide, blood or or blood mucus or hid mucus most hid of most the cells. of the In cells. this case, In this case, you will you need will to need have another to have another smear within smear three within months. three months. Inflammation Inflammation or infection or infection Occasionally Occasionally your smear your may smear show may that show inflammation that inflammation or or infection infection is present. is present. Discuss Discuss this result this with result your with smear your smear taker or taker doctor. or Often doctor. no Often treatment no treatment is required. is required. Atypical Atypical changes changes These changes These changes are borderline are borderline between between normal and normal and abnormal. abnormal. They are They called are atypical called atypical squamous squamous cells of cells of undetermined undetermined significance significance (ASC-US). (ASC-US). Mild (low-grade) Mild (low-grade) changes changes These mildly These abnormal mildly abnormal cells are cells called are low-grade called low-grade squamous squamous intraepithelial intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). lesions This (LSIL). means This changes means changes in the in the surface cells surface of the cells cervix. of the LSIL cervix. is the LSIL lowest is the grade lowest of grade of change. change. If sm m m If re th d M T h w tr th ta h I a 0

5 you have If you atypical If have you atypical or have mild atypical (low-grade) or mild or (low-grade) mild changes, (low-grade) changes, your changes, your your ear taker smear may smear taker advise may taker you advise may to advise have you another to you have to another smear have another in smear 6 12 smear in 6 12 in 6 12 onths. months. Quite months. often, Quite the Quite often, next often, the smear next the will smear next be normal. smear will be will normal. You be normal. You You ay be referred may be may referred to be see referred a to specialist see to a see specialist (colposcopist). a specialist (colposcopist). (colposcopist). you are If you over If are 30 you over years are 30 over old, years your 30 years old, smear your old, taker smear your may smear taker may taker may commend recommend you recommend have you an have HPV you an test. have HPV Smear an test. HPV takers Smear test. can Smear takers follow takers can follow can follow e Guidelines the Guidelines the for Guidelines Cervical for Cervical Screening for Cervical Screening New Screening Zealand New in Zealand when New Zealand when when eciding deciding how deciding to respond how to how respond to to your respond results. to your to results. your results. oderate Moderate to Moderate severe to severe (high-grade) to severe (high-grade) (high-grade) changes changes changes hese more These serious These more more abnormal serious serious abnormal cell abnormal changes cell changes are cell called changes are called are called igh-grade high-grade squamous high-grade squamous intraepithelial squamous intraepithelial intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). lesions lesions In (HSIL). some (HSIL). In some In some omen, women, they may women, they develop may they develop into may cancer develop into if cancer they into cancer are if they not if are they not are not eated. treated. You will treated. You be referred will You be will referred for be colposcopy. referred for colposcopy. for It colposcopy. is important It is important It is important at you that attend you that your attend you colposcopy attend your colposcopy your appointment. colposcopy appointment. appointment. Your smear Your smear Your smear ker will taker discuss will taker with discuss will you discuss with having you with an having you HPV having an test, HPV if an you test, HPV have if test, you if have you have ad a high had grade a had high result. a grade high grade result. result. f you change If you If your change address, change your address, your please address, advise please please your advise smear advise your taker smear your smear taker taker nd the and National the and National Cervical the National Cervical Screening Cervical Screening Programme, Screening Programme, freephone Programme, freephone freephone or 729 or 729 or info@ncspregister.health.nz

6 Colposcopy Colposcopy is an examination of the cervix, using a magnifying lens called a colposcope. This examination takes about 15 minutes. A colposcope looks like a pair of binoculars on a stand. It magnifies your cervix and vagina so that any abnormal areas can be seen. The examination may include taking a small piece of tissue (a process called a biopsy). The biopsy takes only a couple of seconds but it may be a bit uncomfortable. The colposcopist will discuss the result of your colposcopy with you at the end of the examination and will tell you when your biopsy results will be available. Treatment The colposcopist may recommend treatment to remove the abnormal cells. The type of treatment will depend on the sort of abnormality and where it is on your cervix. Some abnormalities can be treated under a local anaesthetic, either in the colposcopy clinic or in day surgery. Your colposcopist will discuss the options with you. Your smear taker will also be able to explain the various types of treatment. Early treatment of abnormal cells is almost 100 percent successful in preventing cancer.

7 The National Cervical Screening Programme The National Cervical Screening Programme encourages women to have regular cervical smear tests. The Programme also reminds women if they are overdue for a smear. Your cervical smear test and colposcopy results are recorded on the National Cervical Screening Programme Register (NCSP Register). Information in the NCSP Register is protected by law and is confidential. The information can be used by the Programme for monitoring and evaluation under strict rules of confidentiality. An Important Message See your doctor if you have: bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse bleeding or spotting after your menstrual periods have stopped (after menopause) persistent pain in your pelvis pain during sexual intercourse unusual discharge from the vagina. The discharge might be smelly, have changed colour from white to pink, brown, or green, or be streaked with blood. These symptoms can happen for several reasons and rarely mean that you have cervical cancer. However, they should be checked by your doctor.

8 Further information Read the free booklet Cervical Screening: A Guide for Women in New Zealand, code HE1328, obtainable from your doctor or smear taker. Visit our website: View this pamphlet and other health education resources at Contact: the National Cervical Screening Programme, freephone your doctor or practice nurse Pacific health centre, marae-based or other Maori health centres your local women s community health centre your local Family Planning Association (FPA) your local Cancer Society. For more information contact the National Screening Unit, the Ministry of Health, phone Auckland (09) , or Wellington (04) Revised June /2014. Code HE4598