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Pap Smears
Annual Pap Smears and 3-MONTH SUPPLY of Birth
Control
Students with current ID get a discount
Patients with Insurance also get a discount.
When a woman reaches 18 or becomes sexually
active, whichever comes first, she should have a
complete examination every year. Pap smears are
done as part of the Annual Visit. At A Woman’s
Choice, medical and reproductive history is
taken and your weight, height and blood pressure
will be recorded.
You will be asked for any family history of
illnesses, your present health status and
habits, details of your menstrual cycle, your
sexual history, your history of surgeries,
pregnancies, and methods of contraception. This
information is needed to determine your health
needs.
We will discuss contraception choices with you,
and instruct you on the use and method of your
choice. After your exam, you will receive a FREE
3-month supply of the contraception method you
choose: The pill, continuous pills, the NuvaRing
or Ortho Evra Patch, which are included in the
fee you pay for your Annual Visit.
Pap Smears
The primary purpose of an annual Pap smear is to
detect abnormal and potentially pre-cancerous or
cancerous cervical cells. Cells are obtained
from a woman’s cervix at the time of a pelvic
exam and sent to a lab for evaluation.
A Woman’s Choice recommends an annual Pap smear.
According to the American Cancer Society,
cervical cancer was once the most common cause
of cancer death among American women. Between
1955 and 1992, the number of cervical cancer
deaths in the U.S. dropped by 74% thanks to the
increased use of the annual Pap test.
Cervical cancer affects women mostly over 20
years of age and occurs most often in Hispanic
women. In fact, the rate for Hispanic women is
twice that of non-Hispanic white women.
African-American women develop this cancer about
50% more often than non-Hispanic white women.
For more information, visit
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/LRN/LRN_0.asp?dt=8.
When abnormal cells are found, other diagnostic
procedures and treatments may be performed.
Colposcopy
A colposcopy is a special diagnostic procedure
that is performed in our office should you
receive abnormal Pap smear results. After a
consultation with a member of our healthcare
team about your abnormal Pap smear ($50), you
may be scheduled for a colposcopy the same day,
if you prefer. It is a painless procedure
performed in our office.
Our Physicians have special expertise in
colposcopies and will carefully examine the
cervix, vagina and vulva with a colposcopy,
which is similar to a microscope that magnifies
the cervix. Through careful examination,
abnormal areas are identified. Following the
colposcopy, the physician will recommend further
treatment or follow-up care. Such care may
include an electrosurgical procedure,
cryosurgery or repeat Pap smears.
Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
A Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure, or
LEEP, is a special surgical procedure used for
the diagnosis and treatment of cervical
dysplasia (pre-cancerous cells). This procedure
can effectively cure abnormal areas on the
cervix by surgically removing all of the
abnormal cells.
Before a LEEP, a colposcopy must be performed to
rule out extensive cancer and to determine the
extent of the abnormal area on the cervix. This
procedure can be done in our office under local
anesthesia while you are awake, or if you
prefer, under conscious sedation. It can also be
done in an outpatient surgical facility under
general anesthesia when you are totally asleep.
Patients should return to our office two weeks
after the LEEP to discuss the results of the
LEEP pathology report. Patients should have a
follow-up Colposcopy and Pap smear 4 months
after the LEEP, after which they should have Pap
smears every 6 months until 3 consecutive Pap
smears are normal or for a minimum of two years.
Cryosurgery
Cervical Cryosurgery is a gynecological
treatment that freezes a section of the cervix.
The process is intended to destroy cells that
show changes that may lead to cancer of the
cervix.
Cryosurgery is done after a colposcopy confirms
the presence of abnormal cervical cells.
Cryosurgery is also used for the treatment of
Cervicitis, or inflammation of the cervix. This
procedure can be done in our office under local
anesthesia while you are awake or under
conscious sedation. For follow-up care, patients
are asked to return to our office two weeks
after the cryosurgery. 4 months later, a
follow-up colposcopy and Pap smear are done.
Patients should have a follow-up Pap smear every
6 months until 3 consecutive smears are normal
or for a minimum of 2 years after the
cryosurgery.
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