What is a Cervix and How Do You Know if You Have Cancer?

• While some women know that they are supposed to see a gynecologist on a regular basis, most women do not understand their own anatomy and what is being examined during the exam.

  The pelvis, the area between your hip bones, houses most of the major female specific organs: the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix (see image on right). There are two ovaries that are walnut-sized and produce eggs that float through the fallopian tubes into the uterus (the womb). The cervix is at the very end of the uterus, and is the doorway to the vagina (the birth canal).

  During a physical exam with your gynecologist (the internal exam), the vagina and cervix is the only tissue that the doctor can see. The doctor can do a test called a PAP or a PAP smear to check if your cervix is normal, if you have cervical cancer, or if you are at risk of developing cervical cancer.

  When should you have this test done? Stay tuned … Dr. Jain’s follow-up blog.