{"id":11982,"date":"2025-09-11T13:23:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T13:23:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/11\/no-pap-smears-dont-detect-ovarian-cancer-doctor-clears-the-confusion-health-and-fitness-news\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T13:23:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T13:23:57","slug":"no-pap-smears-dont-detect-ovarian-cancer-doctor-clears-the-confusion-health-and-fitness-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/11\/no-pap-smears-dont-detect-ovarian-cancer-doctor-clears-the-confusion-health-and-fitness-news\/","title":{"rendered":"No, Pap Smears Don\u2019t Detect Ovarian Cancer: Doctor Clears The Confusion | Health and Fitness News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9565993\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">September 11, 2025, 18:47 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9565993\" class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-2869059762 asubttl-schema\">Pap smears detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. Dr Aruna Kalra explains the difference, symptoms, and why awareness is key for women\u2019s health.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artsharwrp\">\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-2869059762 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"While HPV infections are quite common and often resolve on their own, when they persist, they can lead to the development of cervical cancer over time.\" title=\"While HPV infections are quite common and often resolve on their own, when they persist, they can lead to the development of cervical cancer over time.\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-2869059762\"\/><\/p>\n<p>While HPV infections are quite common and often resolve on their own, when they persist, they can lead to the development of cervical cancer over time.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Many women assume that a Pap smear can detect all types of gynecological cancers. This is a misconception. Pap smears are specifically designed to detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. Understanding this distinction is critical for proper health management, cancer screening, and surveillance.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">A Pap smear involves collecting cells from the cervix, the lower part of the uterus to check for cervical cancer and precancerous changes, often caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is an effective test for diagnosing cervical cancer in its early stages, as well as precancerous conditions that can be treated before they progress. Dr Aruna Kalra, Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram shares all you need to know:<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">Ovarian cancer, however, is entirely different. It begins in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the peritoneal cavity, areas not assessed by a Pap smear. This is why Pap smears cannot be used to detect ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the \u201csilent killer&#8221; because its symptoms are vague and easily overlooked. Common signs include bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating, and frequent urination. Unlike cervical cancer, there is currently no standardized screening test for ovarian cancer in the general population.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">Women at higher risk such as those with a family history of ovarian cancer face particular challenges when it comes to screening and early detection. For them, awareness of symptoms and timely consultation with a doctor become especially important.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Swati Chaturvedi\" title=\"Swati Chaturvedi\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2023\/11\/swati-chaturvedi-2023-11-311a7f6229417d5d5693180448c9311a-scaled.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=60&amp;height=60\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/swati-chaturvedi-22519.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Swati Chaturvedi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she&#8217;s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl&#8230;<span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she&#8217;s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl&#8230;<!-- --> <span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-2869059762 artcta\">\n<div style=\"font-family:Inter;font-size:17px;line-height:29px\">\n<div style=\"font-family:Inter;font-size:17px;line-height:29px\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/health-and-fitness\/\">health<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/topics\/fashion\/\">fashion<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/travel\/\">travel<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/food\/\">food<\/a>, wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. <\/span>Also\u00a0Download the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/eng-article-eop\">News18 App<\/a> to stay updated.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-c9f81425ec968c48 jsx-2869059762 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>September 11, 2025, 18:47 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/health-and-fitness\/no-pap-smears-dont-detect-ovarian-cancer-doctor-clears-the-confusion-9565993.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 18:47 IST Pap smears detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. Dr Aruna Kalra explains the difference, symptoms, and why awareness is key for women\u2019s health. While HPV infections are quite common and often resolve on their own, when they persist, they can lead to the development of cervical cancer over time&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}