Pap smear after childbirth, when to do it?

For those of you women, you may have often heard about the pap smear test. Yes, this one screening method works to prevent cervical cancer from an early age. In addition, this examination is also intensively carried out to ensure that your cervix is healthy so that it is safe for childbirth. So, if you have succeeded in getting pregnant, do women also have to keep pap smears after giving birth? The following is the review.

How important is the pap smear after delivery?

Reporting from Livestrong, women are encouraged to do a pap smear test at least once a year. This includes if you have recently given birth and have children.

Many women think that they don't need a pap smear test after having children. In fact, regardless of whether you have children or not, women are still encouraged to do regular pap smears.

The reason is, cervical cancer can attack women of any age. As you get older, women will be more susceptible to cervical cancer.

What's more, according to the American Cancer Society, women who have given birth more than 3 times tend to be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Although the exact cause is not known, experts suspect that hormonal changes during pregnancy make it easier for cancer cells to grow and develop.

When is the best time?

Most health organizations in the world recommend that women start a pap smear test when they are 21 years old. Most importantly, the woman is already sexually active.

So, even though his age is not yet fulfilling and he is already sexually active, it is mandatory for him to take a pap smear test to prevent cervical cancer. So, when to have a pap smear after giving birth?

As a first step, it's best to see your doctor 6-8 weeks after giving birth. At that time, women usually still bleed after giving birth, which can interfere with the accuracy of the pap smear test results.

When the bleeding has stopped, the doctor will first assess the risk of cervical cancer in your body. If you have had a pap smear for more than a year or have had abnormal results in the past, your doctor usually recommends that you do a pap smear test immediately after giving birth.

After that, wait until you get back to your period at least once. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the best time to have a pap smear after giving birth is 10-20 days after the first day of the last menstruation You.

So, don't delay anymore to consult a doctor about a pap smear test after giving birth. The sooner the examination is done, the risk of cervical cancer can be detected as early as possible.