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The Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a screening test used to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal (transformation zone) of the female reproductive system. Changes can be treated, thus preventing cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is an unusual and exceptional disease. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is extremely common in the human population and is impossible to entirely irradicate.  The UK cervical vaccine program holds great promise for preventing cervical infections caused by the papilloma virus. Infections by the papilloma virus are not cervical cancer. Many people have cervical infections caused by the papilloma virus, but they do not have cervical cancer. Although the papilloma virus is a necessary pre-requisite for cervical cancer, it is not the only factor in the disease. With the cervical vaccination program we can look forward to a time when the incidence of cervical cancer will be very low.  

• The human papilloma virus is transmitted through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. Also, HPV may be transmitted during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact.
• At some point in their lives, nearly 50 per cent of all men and more than 75 per cent of all women are infected with HPV. Most HPV infections in young females are temporary and have little long-term significance. Currently, approximately 20 million Americans are infected with HPV and another six million become newly infected each year.
• HPV tests on the market are only used to help screen women at certain ages.
• Each year worldwide, there are an estimated 0.5 million cases of cervical cancer diagnosed and 270,000 deaths from the disease.
• The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of three shots of the HPV vaccine in females aged between nine and 26 years.

A smear test is a very important part of women’s general health. It is an extremely effective way for preventing cervical cancer, which is a difficult disease in people’s development. However, in spite of it being such an important test in women’s health, a smear test does not have the ability to detect any disease other than cervical cancer.