Nearly three-quarters of Ontario women hold incorrect belief that a Pap test detects sexually-transmitted infections (ref: ovarian)

Blogger's Note: focus is not specific to ovarian cancer but highlights ongoing misunderstandings

press release

TORONTO, April 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of Ontario women incorrectly believe a Pap test detects sexually-transmitted infections and almost half (48 per cent) believe a Pap test screens for vaginal cancer, shows a new survey commissioned by Cancer Care Ontario. .....

A Pap test is a simple screening test that can help prevent cervical cancer. Women aged 21 to 69 should get screened for cancer with a Pap test every three years if they are or have ever been sexually active. The test looks for abnormal cervical cell changes, but it does not test for other cancers in the reproductive organs, such as ovarian cancer, or for sexually-transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A Pap test can be done at your family doctor's office, and if you don't have a doctor, you can get a test done at a walk-in clinic or sexual health clinic.

Key survey findings:

• Of the 90 per cent of women who said a Pap test screens for cancer, nearly one-half (48 per cent) incorrectly believe it tests for vaginal cancer. More than one-third believe it tests for ovarian cancer (37 per cent) and uterine cancer (34 per cent).