Cytology in gynecology: how many smears are done and interpretation of the results. What is a cytology smear for and how is it done? What is a cytological examination in gynecology

It is especially important for a woman to carefully monitor her health, and for this she must be regularly examined by. Often, if you suspect some kind of disease, you have to undergo a cytological examination, that is, take a smear for cytology.

This procedure involves taking tissue for analysis. Under laboratory conditions, using various dyes and fixatives, the sample will be examined for five possible changes. As a result, after a smear for cytology, or the so-called Pap test, it will be possible to talk about whether women develop cervical cancer.

This procedure is carried out in any free institution. The price for tests in paid clinics is different. For example, in Moscow the cost can range from 300 rubles to a thousand.

Cytological examination (smear for cytology) women undergo in case of suspected gynecological disease

What can be seen in a smear?

Regular smear analysis for cytology will allow you to notice pathological changes in the female microflora at the earliest possible time. If the laboratory sees that the standard indicators have changed, then the doctor will be able to start treating the patient on time.

In general, such a study provides two possible answers. Either the analysis is positive, which means that some kind of inflammatory process has begun in the uterus, which led to the entry of pathological cells into the sample. Or the results may be negative, that is, no noticeable changes have occurred, the cervix is ​​quite healthy.

Doctors recommend taking a cytological test for all women about once every 1-2 years. This is a kind of prevention of oncological diseases, since a smear will reveal them at a very early stage. Rapid diagnosis is the key to possible successful cancer treatment.

Regular examinations are the key to good health for women

When do you need to take tests?

To be sure of your health, you need to take a smear for flora and cytology regularly, but not every woman can force herself to do this.

There are a number of indications in which a trip to the gynecologist for analysis becomes almost mandatory:

• One of the most important criteria that determine the state of women's health is the cyclical nature of the menstrual cycle. If it is broken, then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Any infections in this organ system, especially those of a chronic nature, are a reason to take a smear for cytology. This also applies.
• Just planning to conceive a child, or if infertility is suspected, it is worth checking.
• Sometimes a test is given before an operation or other complex procedure.
• The intrauterine device is placed only after receiving the results.

There is a peculiar risk group, and if a woman belongs to one of the following items, she should be regularly examined:

• Obesity.
• Genital.

If the patient uses hormonal contraceptives, has many sexual partners, or is simply weak, then she also needs to think about the test. As a rule, there is no need for this only in two cases - if the girl has not yet begun to live a sexual life, or if she has had a hysterectomy.

How to prepare for the procedure?

It is believed that the best day to pass the analysis is approximately 13-20 cycles. The most important thing is to wait until the end. However, if other procedures were previously performed, such as colposcopy, then a smear can be prescribed only after two days.

Note! The Pap test is not performed during the test, as it will erroneously show the presence of red blood cells.

In order for the results to be as reliable as possible, it is necessary to properly prepare for the procedure. It means that:

• Two days before the test, you need to stop all sexual contact.
• A week before the procedure, all antibiotics should be excluded.
• You can not use various medications that affect the microflora of the vagina, such as suppositories or sprays. It is also forbidden to use lubricants, but in combination with the absence of sexual intercourse, they are not necessary.

Two hours before the tests, you can not go to the toilet. You will have to wait until they are completed. Sometimes tissue sampling is delayed due to severe inflammation, as the procedure can damage the walls of the vagina.

You can not take tests during menstruation

How is a smear taken?

The procedure will take place on a regular gynecological chair. For the fence, the doctor uses a mirror, a special spatula and a brush. Three samples will be collected in approximately 15 minutes. These are the following types of smears for cytology:

• From the walls of the vagina
• From the cervix
• From the cervical canal.

It is generally accepted that such a procedure does not cause pain, but it is worth paying attention to two points. Firstly, with the development of the inflammatory process, any mechanical intervention in the vagina will lead to pain.

Secondly, for a complete and reliable result, it is necessary to take not the very top cells, but those that are much deeper. Simply put, the doctor is obliged not to slightly hold the instrument along the mucous membrane, but to pinch off part of it. Most often, the pain is caused by the cytology of a smear from the cervical canal.

Note. Some women feel discomfort when urinating after taking a test, but this quickly passes. In case of prolonged severe discomfort, you should consult a doctor.

The resulting samples are applied to the glass in an even layer, dried and sent to the laboratory. There they will be Papanicolaou stained and carefully examined under a microscope.

What can the analysis show?

When examining a sample under a microscope, the laboratory assistant will pay attention to the following indicators:

• The shape, structure and size of cells,
• condition of the epithelium
• The location of the particles
• The number of certain elements
• Pathological structural changes.

Many are interested in how many days it takes for research. As a rule, they pass in a day, but it also takes time for the results to be delivered. After that, the doctor will be able to tell the patient what the cytology smear shows.

Most often, one of five possible outcomes is given:

1. Negative indicator, or the first change type. This is the norm, that is, no pathological processes were found, the patient is healthy.
2. Inflammatory type. It becomes the reason for the appointment of additional tests in search of the cause of the infection. Three months later, you will have to re-test.
3. The presence of abnormal cells. If changes in the structure of the nuclei are detected, then the woman is sent for microbiological and histological examination. The diagnosis can be made no earlier than the results of these tests. As with the inflammatory type, a second procedure will be required after three months.
4. Suspicion of malignancy. If the fourth type is found in the analyzes, then colposcopy and other procedures will be prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.
5. oncological type. If the fourth type suggested the onset of a cancerous process, then the fifth one speaks about it with almost complete certainty, although they will still not make a diagnosis only on its basis. Subsequently, additional procedures are carried out, including, but, as a rule, they only determine the severity of the disease.

In general, it is important to remember that the results of a cervical cytology smear only indicate that certain changes have occurred in the cells. For example, elevated white blood cells (normal - within 15 units) indicate inflammation. Even the most accurate decoding will not reveal a definite diagnosis, and will not tell you about the causes of the inflammatory process.

Cytology smear examinations take place throughout the day, after which the result will be known

What diseases can cause cell changes?

A wide variety of diseases can lead to type 2, 3 and even type 4. For example, common or most common.

In addition, one of the following pathologies is often present:

• Papillomavirus infection. It manifests itself in the form of warts on the walls of the vagina.
• sexually transmitted.
• , which is slightly less common than, but still quite common.
• . This infection affects the genitourinary system and often causes infertility.

Taking a sample, the doctor can see changes in the cells due to diseases like cervicitis or parakeratosis. Thus, a positive smear only suggests the development of some kind of pathological process, but additional tests are needed for further treatment.

procedure during pregnancy

A smear for cytology during pregnancy is usually carried out about three times. In this case, even the identified second type is a fairly good indicator. However, if the results indicate a 3 or higher type, then this may be a danger signal.

During pregnancy, it is important not only what cytology smears show, but also other symptoms. For example, expectant mothers complain of burning or itching, sometimes they notice changes in the discharge.

The PAP test shown to pregnant women does not require any special tools for its implementation. Everything will happen according to the usual technology. However, if there is no serious need for an early test, then it is better to do this after childbirth, when the uterus comes into tone.

This article is posted solely for the general educational purposes of visitors and is not scientific material, universal instructions or professional medical advice, and does not replace a doctor's appointment. For diagnosis and treatment, contact only qualified doctors.

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I am a general practitioner and general practitioner. My competence includes issues of early diagnosis of patients and treatment of many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and respiratory tract, liver, kidneys, cardiovascular and genitourinary systems, skin diseases, metabolic disorders, etc. 15 years of experience as a general practitioner in polyclinics Moscow, 5 of which worked in one hospital in St. Petersburg .. I will be happy to answer questions from readers of my blog.

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Cytology is a field of biology that studies the cells of living organisms, their structure, functions, mechanisms of cell reproduction, aging and death. Cytology in gynecology is a special method during which the doctor examines cellular material. What is gynecological cytology?

Cytology analysis

A cytological smear is a very quick, easy, affordable and completely painless test that allows you to assess the degree of deviation of the cells of the cervix. The smear is taken in the gynecological chair during the examination of the patients. First, the doctor, using a cotton swab, completely clears the surface of the cervix from secretions. Then, using a special brush, he takes the necessary material for analysis and puts it on a special glass, after which the contents are taken to the laboratory and examined under a microscope.

Results are usually available within 7-10 business days. With a cytological smear, the shape, size, nature of the placement of cells is determined, this helps to establish cancerous, precancerous and background diseases of the cervix. Gynecologists recommend doing this examination to every woman, starting from the age of 18, once a year inclusive, up to 65 years. The first analysis is required to pass with the onset of sexual activity.

Indications, preparation, results

For the passage of the analysis for cytology in women, the following indications are distinguished:

1. Infertility.
2. Disturbed menstrual cycle.
3. Genital herpes.
4. Planning for pregnancy.
5. Taking hormonal contraceptives.
6. Having multiple sexual partners.

It should also be noted that the smear should be taken immediately after the end of menstruation. To properly prepare for a trip to the gynecological office, you must follow a few rules:

• Do not urinate for 2-3 hours before the procedure.
• Refrain from sex for 1-2 days.
• Exclude the use of vaginal products: lubricants, suppositories, creams, sprays.

The results that the cytology analysis shows are of two types:

• Normal, which indicates the absence of significant pathologies in the cervix.
• Pathological (positive, bad, as well as dysplasia and apathy), which means the identification of some changes that can subsequently cause the onset and development of cancer.

Disadvantages of classical cytology

Unfortunately, this analysis does not always give an accurate result. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. A flat brush does not allow you to take material from the full surface of the organ.
2. The data obtained are distributed unevenly over the glass, which prevents an objective assessment of the analysis and complicates the work of a specialist.
3. There may be foreign matter on the glass.
4. High probability of a false result (from 20 to 40%).

Liquid Cytology

Currently, the conventional smear cytology method has an alternative, liquid cytology, which shows the most accurate results. The main difference of this method is that the cells of this organ are collected using the most advanced brush, which helps to take cells from all corners of the cervix plus from the cervical canal. Then the instrument is placed in a container with a solution and the data goes to the laboratory.

Each cell from the brush is placed together with the solution in a specialized apparatus. In it, an examination of the material is carried out, after which the composition is placed on the glass with the thinnest and smoothest layer. After staining, it is checked by a specialist cytologist. In addition, the device passes the injected preparations through a special analyzer, which can show suspicious or doubtful areas that the cytologist draws attention to. Such a careful approach allows you to fully consider all the cells taken. This significantly increases the probability of accurately determining the state of the cells of the examined organ and prevents their negative changes.

Liquid cytology, being a method of early diagnosis, has a couple more significant advantages:

1. Cells placed in the solution can survive up to 6 months. Given this feature, it is also possible to make an analysis for the presence of the papillomavirus, and even determine the amount of such a virus, which is of great importance when obtaining the result of liquid cytology tests.
2. With the help of a solution it is possible to determine a specific protein P16ink4a. This clarifies the situation in case of detection of malignant cells containing a predisposition to transformation. The presence of this protein indicates complex damage to the cell and the risk of its malignant change. The absence of protein indicates that there is no danger of cancerous transformations.

What is the difference between cytology and histology

Histology is the science that studies body tissues. Histological analysis is associated with cytological. With it, you can find out the exact structure of various tissues. For histological examination, not cells are taken, but tissues (although in some cases a smear or imprint is sufficient). The doctor gives recommendations on the analysis individually. In order to get the result, it takes up to 10 days for specialists, but in rare cases, an express analysis is carried out within a day.

The research takes place in several stages:

1. A piece of fabric undergoes a special treatment to prevent decay, and is also dehydrated for compaction.
2. A solid block is being prepared for cutting with paraffin or other embedding material.
3. The resulting block is cut with a microtome into thin plates.
4. The resulting particles are stained to reveal various tissue structures (DNA, cytoplasm, etc.)
5. Sections are covered with a second layer of glass and examined by histologists or pathologists.

Histology defines oncogynecological diseases and their symptoms. The analysis can be taken from the following organs: uterus, cervix, ovaries.

Thus, we can conclude that a timely visit to a specialist will detect diseases at an early stage and prevent their further development.

Every day in Russia, about a thousand people die of cancer, and in the world this number is more than 20 thousand. It is sad to realize that many patients could have been saved if the diagnosis had been made in the early stages. Therefore, timely detection of oncological diseases is one of the most important tasks of medicine. One of the ways to diagnose cancer and precancerous conditions was discovered in the middle of the twentieth century: it is enough to “ask” the cells of our body.

What does the concept of "analysis for cytology" mean?

As many people know from the school course, cytology is a science that studies the cells of the body. Cytological examination, in turn, allows you to detect abnormalities in the state, structure and functioning of cells and, based on these data, make a diagnosis or monitor the course of the disease, determine the success of treatment. Cells will "tell" about many problems in the studied tissues: about inflammation, bacteria, infections and various neoplasms.

Cytology analysis has the following advantages:

• high accuracy;
• the minimum degree of intervention in the body;
• does not require special complex preparation;
• low cost of research;
• fast results.

The main disadvantage of cell research is the need to take material directly from the affected areas of the body. This creates certain difficulties in cases where the location of inflammation or tumor is unknown, despite the fact that the symptoms indicate the presence of such a pathology in the patient.

When is a cytological examination ordered?

As we found out, cytology analysis is indispensable, first of all, in determining tumors and precancerous conditions, but also allows you to identify many inflammatory, infectious and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it is successfully used in many areas of medicine: oncology, gynecology, surgery.

Cytological examination is prescribed in the following cases:

• for disease prevention. For example, gynecologists recommend taking a cytology test annually, for the timely detection of neoplasms, inflammations and infections;
• for diagnostics. Cytological examination allows you to identify the nature of the pathology, determine the presence of tumors and their nature, detect concomitant diseases. An analysis for diagnostic purposes is prescribed by a doctor to confirm or refute a preliminary diagnosis;
• for control. During the course of therapy, the patient is prescribed a cytological examination in order to monitor the dynamics of the disease, if necessary, make changes to the treatment plan, and also confirm recovery. For cancer patients, periodic cytology analysis can detect relapses.

What biomaterial is being studied?

Since our entire body consists of cells, almost any biomaterial can be used for cytological examination. However, as already mentioned, in order to obtain an accurate result, the material must be obtained from the alleged focus of the disease, that is, contain the affected cells.

Thus, depending on which organ is examined, the following types of biomaterials act as the object of analysis:

• exfoliative- urine, sputum, blood, washings, scrapings from the cervix, from the surface of ulcers and wounds, secretions of glands, excreta, transudates, exudates, etc.;
• punctates, that is, biomaterials obtained by puncture of the thyroid gland, lymph nodes, mammary gland, skin, joints, pleural cavity, etc.;
• operating material. This group includes prints and scrapings from removed tissues, as well as from various incisions obtained during surgery.

How is a cytology test performed?

So, a cytological study begins with the taking of biomaterial by one of the above methods. In traditional cytology, the resulting sample is immediately transferred to glass, dried or fixed with a special substance, and transferred to the laboratory. Unfortunately, such treatment leads to cell damage, and as a result, a frequent false-negative result. The emergence of liquid cytology, a research method in which the biomaterial is immediately placed in a special preservative solution, helped change the approach. This not only helps keep the cells intact, but also significantly increases the shelf life of the samples.

note
The preparation of biomaterial is one of the most important moments in improving the accuracy of the study. The accuracy of the traditional cytology method is only 34.5–89%, while liquid cytology allows you to get a result with an accuracy of up to 98%. Therefore, before the analysis, be sure to specify by which method the study is carried out.

After specimen fixation or preparation by the liquid method, smears are usually stained in one of the following ways:

• according to Papanicolaou (PAP test) - the most common coloring method in the world. Effective in detecting oncological and viral diseases (for example, HPV).
• according to Romanovsky - in Russia it is most often used in the modification of Leishman. As a result of this staining, the nucleus of the cell is clearly visible, which makes it possible to identify bacteria and protozoa.

The resulting sample is then examined under a microscope. During the examination, the doctor reveals anomalies in the number, structure and location of cells and records the data obtained in the conclusion. For example, for a PAP test, type 1–5 cell changes are indicated, where 1 means the norm, that is, the absence of pathologies, and 5 means the presence of a large number of cancer cells in the epithelium.

The conclusion at the bottom of the analysis sheet is usually formed using the common Bethesda terminology system, in which each indicator is indicated as an abbreviation. The system is a world standard and will be understood by physicians in most countries.

How long does it take for a microbiologist to analyze

As already mentioned, cytology analysis is carried out quite quickly: as a rule, the period is up to five days. In some cases (depending on the method and the studied biomaterial), the result can be obtained the very next day.

At the same time, the study itself does not last long, but the clinic can delay the receipt of the analysis form by the patient up to a week or more (usually this happens if the hospital does not have its own laboratory - this should also be paid attention to when choosing a diagnostic center).

How to read the Cytology Results Form

Most patients, having received the test results in their hands, tend to study them on their own, without waiting for the advice of a specialist. Of course, you shouldn't do that.

We will give only a list of the main values ​​​​according to Bethesd:

Abbreviation by Bethesda	Decryption
	No intraepithelial lesion or malignancy
	Atypical glandular cells
AGC, favor neoplastic	Atypical glandular cells that look like neoplastic
	Atypical glandular cells of uncertain significance
	Endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ
	Atypical squamous cells
	Atypical squamous cells of unknown significance
	Atypical squamous cells not ruling out HSIL
	Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1, 2 or 3
	Carcinoma in situ
	High degree of squamous intraepithelial lesion
	Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
	Not otherwise defined
	Squamous intraepithelial lesion
	Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia
	Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia

We gave the transcript of the PAP test above.

Remember that the interpretation of the results of the analysis for cytology should be carried out by an experienced specialist, taking into account data from other studies. Self-diagnosis and even more self-treatment are absolutely unacceptable, because your life and health are at stake.

Cytology analysis is a simple, fast and inexpensive way to examine the body for cancer, inflammation and infection. However, its accuracy depends to a large extent on the training of medical workers taking the biomaterial, on the research method and the quality of the equipment in the laboratory.

Thursday, 01.03.2018

Editorial opinion

Do not treat the appointment of a cytological analysis as a confirmation of the diagnosis, do not worry ahead of time, avoid the procedure, and even more so - try to develop a course of treatment on your own. If for some reason you do not want to go to the hospital to donate biomaterial, pay attention to the sampling service at the patient's home - now many laboratories and diagnostic centers offer this.

Every woman is scheduled for cytology from time to time. What it is is not known to everyone. Even those patients who have already been analyzed more than once have vague ideas about it.

Cytology (Pap test) is a type of laboratory test common in gynecology, during which a specialist evaluates the size and structure of the cells of the cervix and cervical canal. For the first time, this test was conducted by the Greek scientist Papanikolaou to detect cancers at the earliest stages, as well as precancerous conditions.

This method has interested many scientists, because oncological processes in the cervix at the initial stages are often asymptomatic, which for a long time made it difficult to diagnose the pathology. Today, this method of research is carried out around the world, thanks to which doctors have managed to save thousands of lives. There are many indications for which cytology is performed. What it is can also be understood by studying them. A smear for atypia is prescribed for all women over 18 who have visited a gynecologist.

An unscheduled study is necessary for women who are planning a pregnancy or who cannot become pregnant for a long time, with failures in the monthly cycle, the use of hormonal drugs, with a large number of sexual partners, before installing an intrauterine device, if there are complaints of bleeding after intercourse. The study is mandatory for women at risk of developing cervical cancer - patients with herpetic and / or papillomavirus infection (often manifested in the form of pointed papillomas on the genitals).

note

If a woman under 25 does not live sexually, then taking a cytological smear from her is not necessary. Taking a smear after 25 years is a mandatory procedure, regardless of the patient's sexual activity.

After the first study of cells and to this day, there have been some changes in the conduct of cytology. What is it at the moment? Today, analysis is divided into two types - general and particular. When conducting general cytology, a specialist evaluates the parameters characteristic of most types of cells. With private cytology, the characteristics of individual types of cells are studied. In addition, there are 6 areas of cytology.

What it is can be understood if you read them:

• cytomorphology - evaluates the structural features of cells;
• cytophysiology - studies the life of a cell as a separate unit, evaluates the nature of the interaction of structures from the intracellular space;
• cytochemistry - evaluates the chemical composition of cells and its individual components, compares the data obtained with established standards;
• cytoecology - observes the change in the structure, shape, size and composition of cells, as a result of adaptation to changes occurring in the environment;
• cytopathology - diagnoses diseases and pathological conditions of cells caused, for example, by viral damage, malignant processes or the negative effects of drugs.

As you can see, a lot of information about the epithelium of the cervix can be learned from only one cytology. What it is is already clear, but how to properly prepare for the study? In order for the results of the study to be as accurate as possible, it is not recommended to come to the gynecologist during menstrual bleeding. 48 hours before the study, it is worth refusing to have sexual intercourse without the use of a condom.

At the same time, it is not recommended to smoke, drink alcohol and spicy food. It is better to take a shower instead of a bath. Before going to a specialist, it is not recommended to use any vaginal suppositories or tablets, sprays or powders for intimate places. Do not douche or use tampons.

If a woman has any abnormal discharge or symptoms of genital infections, inflammation (unpleasant smell from the genitals, itching, burning), then she should inform the doctor about this. In this case, you may first have to undergo a special examination and treatment. If you suspect pregnancy, you should also warn the gynecologist. In order for the procedure to be as comfortable as possible, the bladder must first be emptied.

A smear for oncocytology: how a cytological examination of smears is performed

Normally, the analysis should be performed on the 10-12th day of the cycle. The collection of material for cytological examination of smears is carried out by a gynecologist in his examination room. This is done before a two-finger manual examination and before a colposcopy. First, the specialist places a gynecological mirror in the vagina, after which he cleans the cervix from various secretions with the help of cotton wool. After that, the doctor uses a special brush to scrape the vagina and vaginal fornix, as well as the endocervix.

The taken material is applied in a thin uniform layer on the pre-disinfected glass. In order for the cytological smear not to dry out, it is treated with a mixture of ethyl alcohol and ethers. Some specialists use aerosols for this or place the material in a test tube with a special liquid. Smears are stored at a temperature of 2-8 degrees for no more than 10 days. Taking material for cytology can cause discomfort.

However, they are very minor and pass quickly. Taking a smear for oncocytology lasts 5-10 seconds. Simultaneously with the smear for cytology, a specialist can take material for a bacteriological smear (usually vaginal discharge). This is necessary to assess the state of the flora of the genital organs, identify some pathogenic bacteria and the most accurate interpretation of the cytological smear in the future. A smear for oncocytology is prescribed to detect cancerous, proliferative, inflammatory, reactive, inflammatory, precancerous conditions, benign neoplasms.

It is important to note that the study allows not only diagnosing pathology at the earliest stages, but also choosing the most correct treatment regimen (different atypical cells react differently to the same drugs), assessing the dynamics of therapy, and monitoring the condition of patients after treatment during avoidance of relapse. After a cytological smear enters the laboratory, a microbiologist begins to work with it.

Cytological examination of smears begins with the fact that the specialist stains the material taken by the method:

• Papanicolaou is the most popular method in the world that can detect cancer cells and viral particles.
• Romanovsky - allows you to clearly stain the nucleus of cells, as well as detect the presence of bacteria and protozoa.

After staining, a cytological smear is examined under a microscope. Thus, a specialist can see an abnormal number of certain cells, their irregular structure and location. After that, he enters the received data into a special form.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the inflammatory smear for oncocytology. In this case, the analysis is prescribed for pain in the lower abdomen, discomfort during menstruation, pain during intercourse and unusual discharge.

Thanks to the cytological examination of smears, the doctor can determine the nature of the inflammation, identify its exact localization and, based on this, make an accurate diagnosis, prescribe the correct treatment, or understand what other studies are needed.

Analysis for oncocytology: how is a cytological analysis performed during pregnancy

The frequency of analysis for oncocytology is determined by the gynecologist based on the state of the patient's body. Healthy older women 18-65 years old those who do not have any pathologies of the cervix can be analyzed once every 3 years.

In the presence of pathologies of the cervix or if the oncocytological smear performed last time turned out to be “bad”, it is recommended to conduct a study once a year. In women older than 65 years, the frequency of cytological analysis depends on the history of the disease and the results of the previous study. An analysis for oncocytology is necessarily carried out before and after pregnancy, however, in some cases, an analysis may also be required during gestation.

As a rule, this study is recommended for women in whom atypical cells were found during pregnancy planning. Based on the results obtained, the patient will be prescribed treatment for the period of pregnancy or will be carried out after childbirth.

It is important to note that cytological analysis is absolutely safe for both the woman and her child, and the presence of poor results in no way means that she will not be able to conceive, bear and give birth to a healthy child in the future. Do not neglect this analysis.

The price for it is small, but with the help of a cytological analysis, a specialist can determine the state (out of five possible) of a woman's cervix:

1. The correct structure of cells, the absence of any pathology.
2. The presence of minor changes in the cervix (mild dysplasia).
3. The presence of single pathologically altered cells (severe dysplasia or moderate dysplasia).
4. Strong changes in the nuclei, cytoplasm, and chromosomes of several cells indicate a suspicion of cancer.
5. A lot of cancer cells, the reliability of the results is beyond doubt.

After taking a smear for cytological analysis, a woman may find greenish or brownish discharge. This should not be a cause for concern, as it is a normal reaction of the body to the procedure. This condition does not require treatment. At this time, it is recommended only to use sanitary pads.

To avoid discomfort, you can refuse intimacy for a week. Unfortunately, some women may experience complications after oncocytology testing, which manifest as abdominal pain, fever, and stenosis. As a rule, this happens if the material was taken extremely carelessly. In this case, it is recommended to seek help from a qualified specialist.

What does a cytology smear show and how to decipher the results

After receiving the results, women often begin to worry and wonder what a cytology smear shows in their case.

The test results always contain the letters U, C and V. They indicate the area from which the material was taken: urogenital, from the cervical canal or vagina. Also, the number of leukocytes is always written in the results. Normally, it is 15 units or less.

If a woman has gonococci, Trichomonas or pathogenic fungi, this will be indicated on the form. In this case, mandatory treatment is required. The presence of gardnerella in large numbers in combination with fungi may indicate candidiasis as a result - inflammation.

Atrophy of the glandular, squamous, or columnar epithelium indicates the onset of cancer development. In this case, the size and shape of the studied cells are also indicated. In addition, the form indicates the degree of purity of the cervix. In this case, the number 1 and 2 indicate normal indicators, and 3 and 4 indicate the need for treatment. Squamous epithelium ideally should not exceed 10 units, but sometimes this figure can be higher. In this case, a cytology analysis shows that the woman suffers from keratosis (a benign change in the tissues of the cervix).

Discharge in moderation is a sign of a good environment in the vagina. If the specialist finds atypical cells, he will write about it in the form. In addition, he will indicate a type of pathological change. If there are no special notes in the result form, then this means that the woman is healthy. In general, test results can be negative or positive. The former are also called good and the latter bad. Deciphering a smear for cytology is a rather complicated procedure, which can only be carried out correctly by a qualified specialist.

That is why it is recommended only to familiarize yourself with the results of the analyzes. A thorough decoding should be carried out by a gynecologist, taking into account many factors. Poor results are what a cytology smear often shows. This could be due to many conditions. Poor cytology results are common, and cervical cancer is rare. As a rule, a poor smear for cytology shows that the patient has an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the cervix.

It usually indicates the presence of a papillomavirus or herpes virus, a violation of the microflora of the vagina, or genital infections. This means that a woman needs to drink antibacterial or antiviral tablets, restore normal microflora. After that, smears almost always return to normal. The presence of atypical cells or dysplasia also does not indicate the presence of an early stage of cancer. Such results indicate that a woman has a predisposition to oncological processes that can occur in the presence of adverse factors.

In addition, the presence of atypical cells is often false positive. This can happen if the material is taken incorrectly. In this case, a biopsy is recommended. In women during menopause, poor results may be due to hormonal changes occurring at that age. They usually affect the mammary glands, ovaries and cervix (the process of involution). That is, a cytology analysis shows that the patient has atrophy of cervical cells due to oncology, while this is a natural process at that age.

If you get poor cytology results, do not worry. After the doctor sees what the cytology analysis shows in a particular case, he will inform the patient about the course of further actions. In most cases, a second analysis or cauterization of erosion, dysplasia, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases is required. Sometimes experts recommend performing a biopsy and / or colposcopy to obtain the most accurate results. In case of cancer, a referral to an oncologist is issued.

Every year the number of oncological diseases of the reproductive system in women is growing. Every woman is susceptible to cervical cancer. The main thing is to diagnose the disease in the early stages. You can identify the disease by passing a smear test for cytology. But what does a cytology smear show and why is it so necessary?

A cytological smear analysis is indicated for all women who have reached the age of 18 and are sexually active in order to exclude cervical cancer. This analysis must be taken every year, during a scheduled visit to the gynecologist.

In order to get good results, you need to know when to take a smear for cytology:

• Correctly chosen day of delivery of the analysis. Do not take the test before or after your period. The most favorable days are 13-21 days.
• Taking a smear for cytology should be carried out correctly. The fact is that the cervix is ​​​​covered with single-layer epithelial cells. Taking it for analysis, the result will not be informative. To do this, you need to take the cells located a little deeper.
• No inflammation. The inflammation is located on the walls of the vagina, when taking a smear, it can be touched, and the inflammation, especially if there is pus, will pass into the uterus, causing complications.

Taking a smear for cytology during pregnancy is not performed. After childbirth, when the uterus comes into tone, you need to see a doctor and take a cytology test.

What does cytology analysis show?

A smear test for cytology shows the state of the cells of the cervix. During a gynecological examination, a special brush is used to collect cells in the cervical area.

What does cytology analysis show? From this smear, the size of the cells, their number and shape are assessed. Healthy cells should have the correct shape and size, and not be atypical.

If the interpretation of the smear results for cytology showed that atypical cells are contained along with healthy cells, then a diagnosis of "atypical forms" is made and a second study is prescribed. Atypical cells - cells that are irregular in shape and structure, divide randomly and very quickly.

Read about other types of women's examinations. The doctor may additionally prescribe hormonal studies after analyzing the cytology. Details in this article.

Diagnosis of dysplasia

If a repeated smear confirmed the presence of atypical cells, then a diagnosis of dysplasia is made. There are several degrees of aplasia:

• Grade I does not require any treatment. Only constant supervision by a gynecologist is recommended.
• Grade II requires a biopsy. After it is carried out, "cauterization" of the pathological area is done, which should stop the development of the pathological process.
• Grade III does not require urgent surgical intervention. The operation is based on the removal of the affected area of ​​the cervix and its delivery for histological examination. Histology should show whether cancer cells are forming. In fact, dysplasia is a precancerous condition that can be cured if it is diagnosed in a timely manner.

If a smear for cytology showed inflammation, you need to pass another analysis, for the microflora of the vagina, which will show what caused the inflammation and what pathogen caused it.

It is not recommended to prescribe treatment without this analysis, since inflammation in the vagina is treated with antibiotics, and antibiotics are not very useful for the body.

This analysis will allow you to choose an antibiotic that is minimally harmful to the body, affecting only this pathogen.

This is the important information that a cytology smear shows. You should not take an analysis more than once a year, for the sole reason that cervical cancer develops very slowly. What does a cytology smear mean for a woman? He guarantees her healthy life and hope for the health of her future children.