For Females only the Ins and Outs of Pap Smears

The Pap smear or cervical cancer test is named after Dr. George Papanicolaou. A small amount of cellular material is scraped from the mouth of the cervix using a small wooden spatula. The material is thinly spread onto a glass slide, fixed in an alcohol solution and sent to the laboratory for staining. It is examined by a cytologist for any abnormal precancerous cells.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the subject and there has been wide variations in the recommendations for screening programmes.

Is cervical cytology worthwhile? When should should a woman begin regular cervical cancer screening? How often should smears be taken? At what age can they be stopped?

A recent comprehensive report, the Walton report was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 1976. The Health Department considers that this report makes realistic recommendations which are applicable to New Zealand.