Pap Smear

A pap smear is a simple test performed by your gynecologist to test for any cervical changes. It tests for cancer and other malignancies.

A pap smear is given by gently swabbing the cervical area. This removes cells from the surface of the cervix that can be analyzed by your doctor or gynecologist to test for any problems.

Under the rules of the Affordable Care Act, pap smears are 100% covered with no copay. For those with no insurance, there are many programs to provide free or sliding-scale pap tests. Contact your local community health center or family planning center for information.

Under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, pap smears are covered with no cost sharing. For uninsured women, programs of free and low-cost pap smears are widely available. Contact your local community health center or family planning center for information on these programs.

A pap smear does not take four months for results. Contact your health care provider directly to find out why the result is not in.

It is a screening test of a woman's uterus to look for pre-cancerous and cancerous cells. If you have them done regularly, any changes can be looked out for and checked out. During a pap smear, a tool is used to take cells from the outer opening of the cervix, the uterus and endocervix. The cells are examined under a microscope to look for abnormalities. I have enclosed a link in the related links which will give you some more information

Spotting five days after a pap smear is not related to the pap smear. If the spotting continues, if you're pregnant, or if you have other symptoms, contact your health care provider.

A pap smear does not detect gonorrhea or chlamydia, although you can get those specific tests done at the same time. A pap looks for abnormal cells on the cervix.

A pap smear is a screening test for cancer and precancerous changes of the cervix. An abnormal test result points out the need for additional testing.

A smear is good for seeing any motile parasites in the feces, eggs may also be discovered though not as great as float because of the background material. Giardia is often missed in float because of weight of cysts, but may also be missed in smear as the cysts and trophozoite are not always shed.

Is there anyone who can answer my question. I'm so confused. I went to the health dept and had my yearly she said she don't a pt test and that it was neg but I never peed in a stick and they never took blood. I'm having all the signs and I was sick yesterday morning. My home test said no but I feel it ain't right. I'm getting the bulg in my stomach but it isn't hard yet. I need help

The answer depends on the type of cancer. Talk with your health care provider for advice specific to your situation. Cancer of the cervix, vagina, or vulva may require frequent pap smears. Cancer elsewhere will not affect the recommendations for pap frequency.

Your placed on a normal doctor bed they lay back a little. You lay flat on your back and they place each leg in a stirrup so your legs are open enough for them to do their job, its very quick and easy. It doesnt hurtt just a bit uncomfortable.

NOOOOO!, that is not normal at all!..... Everytime i go for my pap my doc uses gloves everytime! there is something wrong with your doc! .........I would switch doc's or tell someones about him not using gloves.....thats just sick!

Children will throw or smear body waste for a number of reasons. It is often because they are bored and curious. Upbringing plays a role too, since most parents would try to stop their from playing with fecal matter or other disgusting things, if only they saw them attempting to do so.

Yes. I had surgery to treat cervical dysplasia in 2004. I went on to conceive in 2005 and today I have 2 healthy children. I think it might depend on how much tissue was actually removed. Ask your doctor about it. Also, you have to take care of yourself so that the condition doesn't return (i.e. don't smoke, maintain healthy weight...etc)

It's not normal to have cramping six days after a pap smear, and you should contact your health care provider.

Good question, assuming you are sexually active and have never had an abnormal PAP Smear, you should have a PAP once evey 12 months.

However, if you are not sexually active, most doctors will not see it as a requirement that you get a PAP done. Most problems doctors look for during a PAP are caused by being sexually active. Just to be safe I would go once per year.

On the other hand, if you have had an abnormal PAP done in the last year, I would recommend going every 6 months until you have 2 normal PAP Smears in a row, then you can go back to having the once per year. Here is a website link to help you understand more about PAPs and how often they should be done... http://www.medicinenet.com/pap_smear/page9.htm

Good luck! :)

More commonly if you schedule your PAP just before your period can cause it to come back abnormal. But if your follow up is normal, don't worry. Many women have a couple abnormal over the years with no other problems.

Most doctors would tell you yes.

I'd urge every woman to do her reading and make an informed decision about the need for and value of these exams. Pap tests are never compulsory, never! The pap test like any other cancer screening test has risks and benefits and legally and ethically requires your informed consent. Fewer than 1% of women benefit from pap tests (0.65%) according to American pathologist, Richard DeMay - 0.35% get false negatives and may be disadvantaged by testing and 99% derive no benefit at all. (I've seen figures even less impressive - in Australiathe lifetime risk of cervical cancer is 0.65% and around 0.45% benefit from smears)

Look at your risk profile before deciding to have pap tests. The Finnish program provides some protection from false positives - they offer 5 yearly screening from age 30, 5 to 7tests in total. They have the lowest rates of cc in the world and send the fewest women for colposcopy/biopsies. (fewer false positives) Annual and biannual testing is over-testing and produces very high rates of false positives and over-treatment. Annual will send 95% of women at some point for colposcopy/biopsies - Two yearly - 78%

Three yearly - 65% Five yearly - still high at 35%-55% (depending on the research) Almost all referrals are false positives.

Women under 25 (some say 30) do not benefit from testing, but produce very high rates of false positives. CC in this group is VERY rare and rare in all age groups. The tiny death rate from cc in young women remains the same whether you screen or not.

It's important to do your reading and control your healthcare - unnecessary treatments and biopsies to the cervix can cause damage and lead to infertility, miscarriages, high risk pregnancy, premature babies, more c-sections and psych issues.

The use of stirrups is another disturbing feature of your system - they are not used in consult situations in this country. (or the UK)

Dr Joel Sherman's medical privacy forum is a wealth of information - see under women's privacy issues the articles listed in the side bar. I'd recommend the Richard DeMay article and research by Angela Raffle. (1000 women need regular screening for 35 years to save ONE woman from cc (BMJ;2003) Commentary: "Why I'll never have another smear test" by Anna Saybourn (online) There are also lots of articles by Heather Dixon and others on the real value of these well-woman exams and the unethical practice of doctors holding BC hostage…

Once informed you're better able to protect yourself from harm and to control every consultation. IMO, doctors are careful and respectful when faced with an informed woman.

Those exams are NOT clinically required for the Pill… I should add women not yet sexually active are excluded from testing in other countries, guidelines calling for ALL women to test from 21, that is BAD medical advice.

Also, women who've had complete hysterectomies for benign conditions should be excluded from testing. One other group often overlooked - women in lifetime mutually monogamous relationships are most unlikely to benefit from testing - their risk of cc is near zero.

Whether you're low or high risk, the risk from this cancer is very small and tiny for low risk women - it is your decision whether you screen and if you do, avoid over-screening and early screening.

There are many kinds of abnormal pap smears. The point of the pap smear is the detection of abnormal, precancerous cells on the cervix. Occasionally, other abnormalities are found. If you're worried about your pap smear result, ask your health care provider for more information about your specific case. Some abnormalities require only routine followup in three to five years; others require other types of testing done within months of the smear.

A great deal of confusion exists about cancer of the cervix and the role of smear testing in its early detection. This is unfortunate because cancer of the cervix is unique amongst cancers. It has a long developmental phase, which permits regular examination of the cervix in order to detect abnormal cervical cells, which may precede malignant change.This opportunity for detection of pre-malignant change means that abnormal cells can be treated and prevent the later development of cervical cancer. In other words if more women underwent regular smear testing the incidence of death and serious illness from cervical cancer could be greatly reduced.

wowen from 25 to 65 should have periodic smear tests.

No, when your pregnant, on your first visit they will ask if you've had a pap smear recently and if you haven't they will perform one right then and there.

My doctor told me that they could. I have had an appointment scheduled for a while now and I started my cycle today. I called and told them about it and asked if I should reschedule and they said, "they can do it and they have seen it all." I was like ok.

Pap smears may cause spotting, particularly if you're pregnant. The spotting should stop within a day or two.

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