Publication:

Evaluation of papsmear in pregnancy

Background Cervical cancer is common worldwide and ranks fourth among all malignancies for women. Cervical cytology (PAP smear) as a cancer screening method is most commonly used worldwide. Cervical cancer can be detected at an early stage by PAP smear which is a cost effective and easy to perform test which is also very safe in pregnant women, hence this study is taken up as an opportunistic time for cervical cancer screening to this accessible group of women during their antenatal period and to find detection rate of infectious diseases, precancerous and cancerous pathology of the cervix.

Methods 500 pregnant women of age 21 years and above and between 16-24 weeks of gestation attending the antenatal OPD were included in the study. Scrapings were obtained from the ectocervix and sent for cytological evaluation. Findings were tabulated and statistically analysed.

Results 7.2% of the patients in our study had cervical infection which included candidiasis and trichomonial infections. 0.4% of the patients had abnormal PAP report, and 88.2% had inflammatory smear implying higher risk of STD’s and pregnancy related complications.

Conclusions The cervical cytology is highly recommended for the routine screening in the antenatal care clinic specially for women who had no prior cervical cancer screening. Awareness on cervical cancer, preventive measures and screening methods need to be strengthened among pregnant women when they visit health care facilities and also in the community settings.