How long do I have to wait for my results?

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Your cervical screening result usually will take about 1 week. The clinic staff will usually contact you to inform you when your result is ready.

 

The clinic staff will ask you your preferred mode of sending the result to you. This can either be by email or Singpost. You can also pickup your result from the clinic when it is ready.

 

It is uncommon for your result to take more than 1 week. However, it does not mean that anything is wrong, and most people will have a normal result.

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What does my cervical screening result means?

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 If you are between 25 and 29 years old, the Singapore national guideline recommends that you have a Pap smear every 3 years.

 

A pap smear collects some cells from your cervix to check if you have any cell changes that resembles the effect of a viral infection from the Human papillomavirus (HPV).

 

Most Pap smear will show “Negative for Intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM)”. This means you have a normal Pap smear and your next cervical screening will be in 3 years’ time.

 

Your Pap smear may show infected cells only or cells that has the potential to become cancer in future. We call this pre-cancer i.e. the stage before cancer.

 

Very rarely will your pap smear show cancer cells.

 

If you are between 30 and 69 years old, the Singapore national guideline recommends that you have a HPV test every 3 years.

 

A HPV test does not look at the cells like a Pap smear. The HPV test checks to see if you have the cancer-causing virus, Human papillomavirus (HPV) on your cervix.

 

Your HPV test is NEGATIVE

• This means that your risk of getting cervical cancer is very low (less than 1%) for the next 5 years. You do not need any further tests to check for abnormal cell changes in your cervix, even if you had these in the past.

• Your next cervical screening will be in 5 years.

• You do not need to do a Pap smear in between the 5 years.

 

Your HPV test is POSITIVE

• A positive HPV test result does not mean you have cancer.

• A positive HPV result indicates that you need to be monitored closer than every 5 years.

• When you have a positive HPV test, your doctor may request for an additional test to look and see if you have any abnormal cells in your sample.

• Alternatively, your doctor may refer you to Dr. Ida to have a closer look at your cervix to see if you have any cell that has the potential to become cancer. These cells can be easily and effectively treated by simple treatments if found.

 

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Do I have cancer if my cervical screening result is not normal?

 

In majority of cases, the answer is no.

 

An abnormal cervical screening results (Pap smear or HPV test) indicates that you need closer monitoring.

 

In most circumstances, your doctor will refer you to Dr. Ida for a procedure called colposcopy.

 

Colposcopy is the next stage of your cervical cancer prevention journey if you have a positive cervical screening result, to ensure you do not get cervical cancer.

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Where can I get further advice?

For further advice regarding your cervical screening result, you can book an appointment with Dr. Ida. Click here to make an appointment.