Iva test for early detection of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the many types of cancer that often affects women. By doing early detection, the chances of curing cervical cancer can increase. There are several ways to detect cervical cancer, one of which is to do an IVA test aka IVA examination. See a complete explanation of the IVA test procedure for cervical cancer below.

What is IVA test?

There are various types of tests for cervical cancer. Apart from the most popular pap smear for cervical cancer, the IVA test is one other way that can also be done to detect cervical cancer.

The IVA test is a visual inspection method with acetic acid, also known asvisual inspection with acetic acid. As the name suggests, IVA test is a way to early diagnose the possibility of cervical cancer using acetic acid.

The results of the IVA test that appear can see whether there is a growth of precancerous cells in the cervix, aka the cervix or not.

When can the IVA test be done?

Quoting from the website of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the 2018 Globocan data shows that the number of new cancer cases in Indonesia is around 348,809.

The highest ranking of the number of cases of cancer is breast cancer, followed by cervical cancer in second place.

The number of cases of cervical cancer is estimated at around 23 people per 100,000 population. On this basis, women are advised to carry out early detection.

The IVA test is an option for early detection of cervical cancer. So, when is the right time to do an IVA examination?

One of the advantages of the IVA test over other examinations is that it is safe to do so at any time. Before, during and after menstruation it doesn't matter.

Can I do an IVA test while pregnant?

Cervical cancer detection is not really necessary during pregnancy. This is because the results of detection of cervical cancer during pregnancy are becoming more difficult to determine. If you want to do this, do it at 12 weeks postpartum.

However, if you have previously had poor results on early detection of cervical cancer, an IVA test during pregnancy may need to be done. Basically, this IVA test will not affect your pregnancy.

How is the procedure for doing IVA test?

The purpose of the IVA test is as an initial screening to detect symptoms of cervical cancer and prevent complications.

The IVA exam is a test that is generally painless and only takes a few minutes. Examinations that tend to be short and without going through complex laboratory tests make IVA test relatively affordable compared to other cervical cancer early detection methods, such as the pap smear.

At first glance, the process of checking the pap smear and IVA looks the same. The procedure for the IVA test to be performed is as follows:

• Before starting the IVA test, you will be asked to lie down with your legs wide apart or straddled.
• The doctor or midwife inserts a speculum into the vagina. The speculum device aims to make the vagina wide open, making it easier to observe the cervix or cervix.
• Acetic acid or vinegar with a level of about 3-5% rubbed on the cervical wall.

Unlike the pap smear, which has to wait several days to find out the results, the IVA test is a test where the results can be seen immediately after the examination.

Usually, normal cervical wall cells will not experience any change (color) when applied with acetic acid.

Conversely, if there are problems with cervical wall cells, for example, precancerous or cancerous cells, the cervix will automatically turn white.

Therefore, the IVA test is one of the early tests for cervical cancer, which results can be known quickly.

The advantages of IVA examination

As reported by the Cancer Disease Situation from the Center for Data and Information, the Indonesian Ministry of Health, some of the advantages of the IVA test for cervical cancer compared to other methods are:

• Examination is simpler, faster and easier.
• It does not require complicated laboratory tests so that the results can be immediately known.
• It does not have to be in a hospital, but it can also be done in a health center with a general practitioner or a midwife.
• It is considered more effective because it can be done once (single visit).
• Early detection with the IVA test has coverage of about 80 percent in about 5 years, and is thought to reduce the chance of cervical cancer significantly.
• The IVA test has a sensitivity of about 77% percent (range 56-94 percent), and a specificity of approximately 86 percent (range 74-94 percent).

How to read IVA results test?

The results of the IVA test are the results that you can know immediately after the examination is complete. This is of course a little different from the pap smear test which takes some time until you know whether there are cancer cells or precancerous cells in the cervix.

As an illustration, the following is an explanation of each result of the IVA test:

Negative IVA test

A negative IVA result is good news. This means that there is no growth of precancerous cells or cancer cells in your cervix or cervix. This examination result means normal.

Inflammation IVA test

An IVA test result that shows inflammation is a sign of inflammation in the cervix or cervix. This inflammation can include benign findings, such as the presence of polyps.

In conditions like this, usually you will be given certain treatment first, until the polyps have disappeared and the cervix returns to normal.

After that, the IVA test for cervical cancer can only be repeated to get more accurate results.

Positive IVA test

A positive IVA test result is a sign of abnormalities in the cervix. The results of the IVA test can be said to be positive when white is found (acetowhite) on the cervix after application with acetic acid or vinegar. This condition can indicate the growth of precancerous cells.

Cervical cancer IVA test

The IVA test results indicate that there are abnormalities in the growth of cells in the cervix. The results of this IVA test can be caused by the growth of cancer cells in the cervix or cervix.

What to do after doing the IVA test?

What you need to do after undergoing an IVA test to detect cervical cancer depends on the results you get from this examination.

If you get a negative result on the IVA test, all you have to do to prevent cervical cancer is to live a healthy lifestyle.

For example, still regularly check for cervical cancer, at least every two years. Then, avoid various things that have the potential to cause cervical cancer. Not only that, practice a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly.

Meanwhile, if the IVA test results are positive, all you have to do is do further tests for cervical cancer. The reason is, you also need to know the stage of cervical cancer you are experiencing.

Not only that, it is also important to do after undergoing an IVA test is to undergo cervical cancer treatment recommended by doctors, starting from the use of cervical cancer drugs, to radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cervical cancer. Usually, the type of treatment recommended by doctors is determined according to the stage of cervical cancer being experienced.

In addition to treatment, you also need to adopt a healthier lifestyle, for example by eating good food for cervical cancer patients and exercising regularly.

This will be very helpful in the process of cervical cancer recovery that you will undergo after treatment for your condition. You also need to stop all bad habits that have the potential to worsen health conditions.