Well, that's a question that has a short answer, and a longer explanation. The pap smear doesn't look for STDs itself, but looks for damage due to high-risk HPV infection. However, it is not uncommon for STD tests to be ordered at the same time.
The purpose of the pap smear is to identify patients who need further testing for cancerous and precancerous changes on the cervix. In the pap smear, a sample of cells is taken from the cervix and a specialist looks at the cells under a microscope (or a computer reads the result). In some cases, the health care provider may also request an test for high-risk (cancer-causing) HPV subtypes with the pap smear. Under the most recent guidelines for Cervical cancer screening, this test is done for women 30 and over, or is added on in the case of a mildly abnormal pap (i.e. an ASCUS result). This test for high-risk HPV subtypes is not meant to tell you that you do or don't have HPV, but is only meant to highlight which patients need a different test schedule based on cancer-causing HPV subtypes.
In the course of collecting a Pap smear, the health care provider can also request that the lab check for STDs. In some cases, a test for STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis can be added on to the lab request and tested from the same swab. In other cases, a second swab is sent out for the infections, and a microscopic examination of the vaginal discharge can also be done to check from trichomoniasis.
In rare cases, a pap smear may show infection with trichomoniasis, but a normal pap smear can not be assumed to mean no trich infection. In even rarer cases, a pap may show signs of herpes. Herpes will only show up if there's active infection on the cervix, and a woman with a normal pap smear must not assume that she does not have herpes.
A pap smear cannot detect or rule out HIV, hepatitis, or syphilis. Blood tests are required to screen for these diseases.
In summary:
It's to detect cancer or stds
A pap smear looks for abnormal cells on the cervix. It is not meant to detect STDs. You can get tested for STDs without having a pap smear. Contact your health care provider, department of health, or local family planning agency for information on STD testing.
A pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. It doesn't detect UTIs.
A pap smear can't detect pregnancy.
chlamydia and pap smear test about infection bacteria can be detected .
No, a pap smear can't detect blocked fallopian tubes.
A pap smear does not detect HIV. A pap smear rarely detects herpes -- only when the patient is having an active outbreak on the cervix at the time of the smear. A normal pap smear does not tell a woman that she doesn't have herpes.
A pap smear can detect herpes only if the patient is having an outbreak on the cervix at the time of the test. A pap smear can't tell you that you don't have herpes.
A pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer.
No, a pap smear does not detect pregnancy.
A pap smear can't detect pregnancy. A pregnancy test is needed to detect pregnancy.
A pap smear can detect conditions that may be CIN. Further testing is required for definitive diagnosis of CIN.