A common complaint for many women is the presence of a vaginal discharge with or without itching. The causes of excessive discharge/itch are many, and may be caused by infections, hormonal changes, bacterial imbalance, use of unsuitable sanitary products or other skin conditions.
The pap smear is one of the established methods for screening and early detection of cervical cancer. It should be performed at regular intervals to be effective. A small amount of cells is obtained from the cervix using a soft plastic brush. The entire procedure should take no more than 1-2 minutes and is usually painless.
Colposcopy is a specialized examination of the cervix using a high resolution microscope. It allows any pre-cancer or cancerous cells in the cervix to be seen long before any symptoms or visible growths on the cervix are present.
