When to do a smear?
Between 25 and 65 years old, after two negative smears carried out one year apart, we have to do a smear every three years. No more no less ! Yet more than half of women are not screened or not often enough, while 40% are too frequently.
In order for the cell sample to be readable, the smear must be taken:
– outside of menstruation or bleeding
– at a distance from sexual intercourse (48 h)
– avoiding vaginal douches and wearing a tampon (24 h)
– in the absence of local treatment (eggs, lubricating gel, spermicide, etc.), inflammation or infection
– after local treatment with estrogen in women not having hormonal treatment after menopause (see below).
The HPV test, on the other hand, can be performed at any time during the cycle and without any of these restrictions.
Where to do a smear?
It is not only at the gynecologist that you can do a smear. Fortunately, because some women have no choice. In this case, do not hesitate to talk to your general practitioner or a midwife, or to contact a health center, a planning center, or even directly to a laboratory for the analysis of medical biology (with a prescription).
How’s it going ?
The smear is taken during a pelvic examination. The doctor takes a sample of surface cells from the cervix using a small brush, swab or disposable spatula. While this test is sometimes unpleasant, it is usually not painful. But with the modifications related to the menopause (vaginal dryness, closure of the cervix and rise of the junction zone between the endocervix and the ectocervix), the examination is more difficult to perform. To avoid pain, your doctor may prescribe topical estrogen (eg Colpotrophin eggs) a few days before the test. They will open the cervix and facilitate the collection.
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