CERVICAL SCREENING USING PAP SMEAR IN FIRST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY

Authors

DR PRIYANKA KANWARIA , DR SHUBHA SRIVASTAVA , DR DIVYA DIXIT Author

Keywords:

HSIL - High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion PAP - Papanicolaou HPV - Human Papilloma virus CIN - Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia NILM - Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women,
particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Early detection through screening
plays a critical role in reducing morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy presents an
opportunity for cervical cancer screening, as women attend antenatal visits regularly.
This study aims to screen antenatal women in their first trimester using Pap smears to
identify pre-malignant and malignant cervical lesions.
The study was conducted at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, and included 400
pregnant women in their first trimester. Results showed that 43% had inflammatory
smears, while 4.25% had infectious smears. No cases of high-grade squamous
intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) or malignancies were detected. The study emphasizes
the importance of integrating cervical cancer screening into routine antenatal care.