At Advanced Women's Healthcare, our many doctors can help you diagnose and treat many dangerous conditions. For example, we can help detect potential problems that might lead to cervical cancer by providing a pap smear for you in Bloomington, IL. What exactly is this test and how does it help you? Let's take a deep look at this process to learn more.

What Is a Pap Test?

A Pap test is a simple exam that carefully removes a small number of cells from your cervix. These cells are scraped away with a brush and shouldn't cause much discomfort. Once they've been taken, your physician will examine them carefully to identify any potential problems. Note that a pap test is not a test for cervical cancer but a check on potential cell changes.

The difference is subtle: a pap test examines cell mutations or changes that could become cancerous and will help your doctor understand your potential risk. Then, they can create a treatment plan that may prevent cancer from developing. That's a huge health advantage and one that also offers many other benefits beyond this early detection.

Why You Should Get a Pap Smear Soon

If you're still on the fence about getting a pap test, it's important to know exactly how they can help you. At Advanced Women's Healthcare, we believe this exam is something every woman needs as they age. Just a few reasons why they're essential:

• Cell Mutations Can Rapidly Worsen: Minor cell changes and mutations can rapidly become cancerous and potentially threaten your life. A Pap test can ensure they get caught soon.
• Cervical Cancer Has Minimal Early Symptoms: Like many cancers, cervical cancer doesn't cause obvious symptoms until late in its development. Pap tests may save you from this danger.
• Preemptive Treatment Can Protect You: When your doctor detects mutated cells with a pap test, they can remove or treat them to help minimize or eliminate your cancer risk.

The danger of cervical cancer is just too high for you to ignore. A Pap test is typically done in less than an hour and could potentially save your life. A one-hour visit is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that you get from managing this health concern.

Contact Us Today To Get Started

If you have a family history of cervical cancer or are otherwise worried about this danger, contact us today at Advanced Women's Healthcare to schedule your pap smear in Bloomington, IL. We'll do what we can to diagnose this problem and manage it effectively. Call us at (309) 808-3068 to learn more about the ways that we can help you.