A vaginal Papanicolaou smear showing a predominance of superficial cells is consistent with which of the following states?
Obesity
Newborn
Progesterone therapy
Postmenopause
Late luteal phase
Show Answer and Explanations
Obesity — Correct answer
Correct. Obesity is associated with increased estrogen and a predominance of superficial cells.
Newborn
Incorrect. Premenopausal and postmenopausal states show predominantly parabasal cells. Newborns have been recently exposed to their mother's hormones, predominantly progesterone in the pregnant state, and so have mostly intermediate cells.
Progesterone therapy
Incorrect. Progesterone is associated with intermediate cells.
Postmenopause
Incorrect. Atrophic states are associated with parabasal cells.
Late luteal phase
Incorrect. The late luteal phase is progesterone predominant and shows mostly intermediate cells.
Summary
Summary: Intermediate cells: progesterone predominant states