Why should I take the test?💡 

Cervical screening is a simple test to check the health of your cervix. It is not a test for cancer, it is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer. 

Cervical screening looks for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can damage cells in your cervix and cause cervical cancer.    

How is the test done?💉   

During a cervical screening test, you will be instructed to lie on your back while a speculum is inserted into the vagina to give your practitioner a clear view of your cervix. Then, a soft spatula or a cyto-broom, a type of brush is used to gather cells, which are sent to a laboratory to be cultured and analyzed. 

TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: 

Cervical screening can be performed at any time. It's recommended for women between 25 and 64 years of age and those who have been sexually active. Although women under age 25 don't need a routine screening, it is also the perfect age for changes in the cells of the cervix to develop. The test is useful in your first prenatal visit if you haven't had a routine screening to help you keep track of your health throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

If the results come out positive for HPV, don't worry too much. It doesn't mean you have cancer. HPV infection during pregnancy doesn't usually affect the baby and it's rare for this to progress further to become cancer during pregnancy. Therefore, most doctors often recommend you to wait for at least 12 weeks after you've given birth to do the screening.