Vaginal cytology studies cells obtained from the vaginal area and is important in determining a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. Abnormal cells found can indicate cancer or disease. The Bethesda system is used to classify cytology results, with high-grade changes indicating a higher risk of cervical cancer. Yearly Pap smears are recommended for sexually active women.
The study of cells is called cytology. This specialized branch of science studies the anatomy of cells and how individual cells react to other cells. Vaginal cytology is the study of cells obtained from the vaginal area. Abnormal cells found in the vaginal area can be an indicator of specific types of cancer or disease.
Vaginal cytology is important in determining a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. Cervical cell samples are usually obtained during a routine Pap smear. These cells are examined by a laboratory and the results are sent to the doctor. If abnormal cells are present, the doctor should determine whether further tests are needed based on the vaginal cytology report.
The presence of abnormal cervical cells on the cervix is called cervical dysplasia. There are various causes of cervical dysplasia. One of the most common causes is the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV). This sexually transmitted disease can cause changes in the cervical cells. In some cases, the presence of HPV can lead to cervical cancer.
A cytology report that your doctor receives from a vaginal smear will most likely use the Bethesda system for classifying vaginal cytology. A negative result will indicate that no abnormal cells are present. An unsatisfactory result means that the sample contains unsuitable cells for testing. Your doctor may want to repeat the Pap smear due to poor sampling.
Benign vaginal cytology results indicate that no cancer cells are present but there may be infection or irritation. If the cytology report shows the presence of atypical cells, it means that there are cellular changes on the cervix that need to be monitored. Low-grade changes in the cytology usually indicate the presence of HPV. This may or may not lead to cancer cells.
High-grade changes in vaginal cytology indicate more severe cellular changes. This places a woman at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. If the high-grade changes are left untreated, you may develop squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. This means that the cancer is present and requires immediate treatment to prevent it from spreading.
Doctors usually recommend yearly Pap smears for sexually active women. If there are changes in vaginal cytology, your doctor may recommend more frequent testing based on the type of changes. If a woman has normal cytology on three consecutive Pap smears, her doctor may recommend that she get checked once every three years.
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