Can I have sex before a Pap smear?

The vaginal cytology It is the gynecological test that is performed on women in order to analyze the cells of the cervix, this is located at the end of the vagina and is the narrowest part of the uterus. Specifically, what is sought is to identify possible anomalies in both the cells and the walls of the cervix, thus being the key examination to be able to detect cervical cancer in early stages. On the other hand, it also allows the diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the main cause of cervical cancer.

Performing cytology is very important to guarantee the health of the female reproductive system, as cervical cancer is one of the most frequent among the female sex and if it is detected in time, appropriate treatment and treatment can begin. evolution of the disease will be much more favorable.

In addition to knowing what cytology is for, it is important to be aware of who should undergo it and how often. To begin with, all women who already have sexual relations or who are over 21 years oldeven if they are not sexually active, they should get tested 1 time a year As minimum.

The frequency The duration of this examination may vary from one woman to another depending on her state of health and certain circumstances, so it is best to have this information confirmed by your gynecologist. However, in general, you may need to have cytology more often if:

You have suffered from diseases such as herpes or genital warts. Your immune system is weakened, either by an organ transplant or by aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy or steroid use. You are HIV positive. During pregnancy, your mother took diethylstilbestrol (DES), an estrogen that was once prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage and treat bleeding.

On the other hand, once they are over 65 years of age, it is likely that women will no longer have to perform cytology if they have obtained normal results for more than 10 years. Likewise, those women who have had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus or part of it) may not require it, although it will be necessary if the hysterectomy was carried out due to cervical cancer or precancerous cellular alterations.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions among women who are going to undergo a Pap smear or Pap test. And as gynecologists assure, there are a series of measures that must be taken into account before performing the cytology so that the result is as accurate as possible and is not altered.

Precisely for this reason, for the cytology result to be accurate, specialists recommend avoid having sex for 48 hours before to the exam. To understand why, you should know that with penetration and contact with sperm, the internal walls of the vagina undergo a slight change, become inflamed and can become victims of irritation, something that could contribute to experiencing more discomfort during the procedure. of the gynecological examination. In addition to this, if the sperm enters the interior of the vagina, it can remain stuck there for up to a total of 72 hours before being completely eliminated, which could interfere with the results of the cytology.

In any case, the most convenient thing is that before undergoing the test, consult with your gynecologist this information and follow all the instructions that he himself provides you.

In addition to avoiding sexual relations before cytology, there are other aspects in which you must repair previously so that the results are not altered and so that you are completely comfortable during its execution:

Avoid vaginal douching within 24 hours before the exam. Avoid the use of suppositories, creams, deodorants or lubricants during the 24 hours before the cytology. If you have menstruation, you should tell your gynecologist, since you will not be able to do it cytology. Likewise, it is important that three days have passed after the bleeding has stopped. If you suffer from a latex allergy, it is advisable that you inform your doctor about this, as he or she will use gloves made of a different material during the examination.

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