A Pap smear (short for Papanicolaou) is a test done to screen for cervical cancer. In most women, it is recommended that it be obtained once per year.
Cervical cancer is a common gynecological cancer, and in most cases is preventable. The prevention is via obtaining a Pap test once a year (or more commonly in cases of abnormal prior history). Cervical cancer first passes through a pre-cancer stage, called cervical dysplasia. It is during this time that a Pap smear catches the abnormal cells from the cervix, and treatment can easily be given before it can progress to cervical cancer.
The cause for this cancer is an infection by HPV, short for Human Papilloma Virus. HPV is a virus that is transmitted sexually, and is actually very commonly found in adults and adolescents that are sexually active. Usually this infection is self limiting, meaning it does not cause any harm to the woman. However, depending on the strain of the virus as well as the genetics and immune response of the person, it can cause changes in cells that can eventually lead to cancer of the cervix.
Dignity, respect, compassion, affordability, without judgement.
We are a community women’s clinic and abortion center that provides low cost, affordable reproductive health care for the women of Southern California, located in Santa Ana, Orange County.
Birth control is the best way to avoid an unintended pregnancy. However, sometimes failures or mistakes can occur, leading to an unplanned pregnancy. Whether or not to continue with it becomes a personal choice for the woman. Of the many people in that situation, some are willing to continue, while others will end it.
Sometimes others try to pressure the woman not to have an abortion. We feel that such coercion is unethical, and that the choice is one that should be solely that patient’s. The guiding principle at our medical clinic is that the patient’s choice should be respected and supported.
If you call or visit any family planning clinic that does not support or respect your decision, then that place is doing you a disservice. Unfortunately, there are many such clinics that masquerade as a family planning center only to draw in unsuspecting women that are already in a stressful situation and then try to steer them in only one direction. These false clinics are motivated only by their personal beliefs and political agendas. It is best to avoid those places.
Rest assured that we are completely pro-choice, and will provide abortion services to each woman that has chosen to terminate the pregnancy.
Obtaining a Papanicolaou screen is done during an easy pelvic exam by a gynecologist. If the sample is abnormal, someone with experience and training in managing abnormal cervical cytology, such as a qualified gynecologist will then perform a colposcopy, obtain a cervical biopsy, and treat the abnormal cells if needed.
We offer cervical cancer screening, as well as colposcopy and treatment of dysplasia (abnormal pre-cancer cells of the cervix) if needed.
We are a community women’s clinic and abortion center that provides low cost, affordable reproductive health care for the women of Southern California, located in Santa Ana, and Orange County.
