Can A Pap Smear Detect HIV?

If you are an adult female, the question “Can a pap smear detect HIV?” must have crossed your mind at least a few times. It is natural to think about it because not everyone knows everything about pap smears, HIV, and STDs. So, can a pap smear detect HIV? Read a little more to find “Can a pap smear detect HIV?”

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is one of the most dangerous viruses that affect the immune system. It weakens the cells which fight infections and keep the body healthy. There is no cure for HIV, and so once a person is infected, it stays in the body for life. HIV can spread through contaminated blood and other bodily fluids via unprotected sex or sharing of needles among drug users. Sometimes mothers with a child can also pass the virus to their unborn babies.

A Pap smear is a test for determining abnormal cells in the cervix area that can cause cancer. It is a simple procedure that saves lives as it detects cancerous, pre-cancerous, and other abnormal cells. Therefore, experts and doctors suggest for all females above the age of twenty-one have a pap smear test regularly. If the pap smear results show abnormalities, there is a high risk of getting cancer or being infected with STDs.

Now that you have an idea about pap smear and HIV, the big question “can a pap smear detect HIV?” might still be revolving in your head. Experts believe that while a pap smear test is not for detecting HIV, patients having the virus are at higher risk of having HPV, which causes cervical cancer. Thus, if you have HIV, your pap smear will show many abnormalities indicating the presence of HPV, the leading cause of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer, as well as STDS, are high-risk ailments that cause extreme complications and fatalities. So, even if you are still wondering, “Can a pap smear detect HIV?” you should order a test online from one of our partner labs in the neighborhood and remove your anxiety. Even if a test is positive, help is one call away, so you should not hesitate to have a test.