A pap smear (or pap test) is a screening for cervical cancer. It involves taking cells from the cervix and vagina and examining them under a microscope. The test is looking for cervical ...

A Pap smear involves a medical provider inserting a speculum into the vagina, then swabbing the cervix before sending the sample to a lab. Reporter Maybe you had a bad experience with your last Pap ...

Although you can get a Pap smear during your menstrual period, some doctors may prefer you do not. A heavy flow may alter your exam results. If in doubt, it’s better to ask your OB-GYN, but try not to ...

Most people should continue getting Pap smears after menopause, as you may still be at risk for cervical cancer, which Pap tests can identify early. Some people may be able to stop Pap smears after ...

An abnormal Pap smear means some percentage of your cervix cells appear abnormal in shape or size. In most cases, an abnormal Pap smear does not indicate cancer and is in fact caused by HPV. If you ...

A Pap smear or Pap test involves a doctor taking a small sample of cells from a person’s cervix using a brush or spatula-like instrument to look for changes in the cervix’s cells. Share on Pinterest ...

Back in May of this year, the FDA approved a new method of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in a healthcare setting. Rather than a standard Pap smear performed with a speculum -- a test dreaded by ...

Many women get a Pap smear every few years during checkups at the gynecologist's office. Doctors do these tests to check for early signs of cancer of the cervix, the canal that connects your vagina to ...

Many people who have a Pap smear notice light bleeding, or spotting, for a couple of days after the test. This may be due to irritation of the cervix. This symptom may occur because the Pap smear can ...

A Pap smear, or Pap test, is a procedure used to collect cells from a woman's cervix (lower part of the uterus) and test them for cervical cancer or precancerous changes. The cells are collected ...