Do I need a vault smear after hysterectomy?
Andrew Mclaughlin
Updated on March 01, 2026
Ideally this should not happen but, if it does, one vault smear (taken from the top the vagina) is recommended six months post operatively. or CIN is found, a vault smear (from the top of the vagina) is taken at six months and 18 months after the operation.
What tests are done after hysterectomy?
Pap test, also called a Pap smear, is a routine screening test for early diagnosis of cervical cancer. If you had a partial hysterectomy — when the uterus is removed but the lower end of the uterus (cervix) remains — your doctor will likely recommend continued Pap tests.
What is a vault smear?
A vault smear is a cytological sample taken from the blind end of the vagina; the vault smear is used a means of identifying recurrent cervical cancer or the development of vaginal neoplasia.
How do you test for HPV after a hysterectomy?
Continued vaginal cytology (Pap test) is recommended for women who had a hysterectomy for the indication of high-grade cervical dysplasia or cancer, as their risk of vaginal cancer remains elevated. Vaginal assessment may also be indicated in the presence of HPV-associated vulvar cancer.
How common is vain after hysterectomy for CIN?
Another report showed the incidence of VAIN after hysterectomy due to CIN is about 0.9% to 6.8%. For patient that had hysterectomy with high-grade CIN, the incidence of VAIN after hysterectomy may increase to 7.4%. This study found that the incidence of CIN with VAIN was as high as 17.2% to 22.6%.
How common is vain after hysterectomy?
Results: VaIN was found in 81 patients after hysterectomy (incidence rate, 0.9%).
What is left after a total hysterectomy?
In total and radical hysterectomies, the cervix is removed along with the uterus, and potentially other reproductive organs. If you have a partial hysterectomy, also known as a subtotal or supracervical hysterectomy, your cervix is left in place.
Can I get HPV if I had a hysterectomy?
Women who have undergone a total hysterectomy do not have a cervix and are at low risk of HPV‐induced cancer of the lower genital tract.
How do you treat VAIN 1?
VAIN is often treated using topical therapy (like 5-FU or imiquimod) or laser treatment. When there are many areas of VAIN, intracavitary radiation (brachytherapy) may be used. Sometimes, surgery is used to remove the lesion (the area of abnormal cells).
How common is VAIN?
Primary invasive carcinoma of the vagina is rare, accounting for less than 3 percent of malignant tumors of the female genital tract. Overall, VAIN is relatively rare. It is far less common than cervical or vulvar dysplasia.