By the way, doctor: Do I need a Pap test after hysterectomy?
Screening with a Pap test can detect abnormal cervical cells at an early stage, before they become cancerous. The test is performed during a pelvic exam. A clinician inserts a speculum into the vagina to part the vaginal walls and uses a tiny spatula or brush to gather cells from the cervix and endocervical canal, where most cervical cancers arise (see illustration above). The cells are placed on a slide or into a solution and sent to a laboratory for analysis. If a woman's cervix has been removed during hysterectomy for cervical cancer, the clinician will examine the vaginal tissue and obtain cells from the hysterectomy suture site.
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