Two disadvantages of Pap smears are the potential for false negative results and the costs associated with follow-up testing.
Pap smears are a vital screening tool for cervical cancer, but like any medical test, they have limitations. Understanding these drawbacks can help individuals make informed decisions about their health. The disadvantages include:
- False Negative Results: Pap smears are not 100% accurate. Sometimes, a Pap smear can miss abnormal cells, leading to a false negative result.
- Costs of Further Testing: An abnormal Pap smear result often requires further testing, such as a colposcopy and biopsy. These additional tests can be expensive. As the provided reference mentions, "costs of further testing after an abnormal test result" is a disadvantage of screening with Pap smears.
- Discomfort, Pain, Inconvenience or Embarrassment: Getting a Pap smear can be associated with discomfort, pain, inconvenience or embarrassment.
Here's a table summarizing the disadvantages:
| Disadvantage | Description |
|---|---|
| False Negative Results | The test may not always detect abnormal cells, leading to a missed diagnosis. |
| Costs of Further Testing | Abnormal results often require additional, potentially costly, tests like colposcopies. |
