Download Frequently Asked Questions About Pap Tests

Understanding Pap Tests
What is a Pap Test?
The Papanicolaou test or “Pap smear” is an examination of the cells from a woman’s cervix to see if she has cancer of
the cervix, signs of a virus infection, or cell changes that put her at risk for developing cervical cancer later.
Why Should I Have a Pap Test?
A Pap test could save your life. It can identify pre-cancerous cellular changes that could develop into invasive cancer.
If caught early, treatment for cervical cancer can be easier and the chances of curing it are greater. It is estimated
that about half of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had routine Pap tests.
How Often Should I Have a Pap Test?
Current guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend a baseline Pap
test for women at age 21, with routine Pap testing every 3 years for women ages 21-30, (provided her first test is
normal) and an annual women’s health check-up which may include a pelvic exam, breast exam, appropriate STD
testing, contraceptive management, and a review of any other women’s health concerns. Talk to your healthcare
provider about when to schedule your next visit.
How Do I Prepare For a Pap Test?
For two days before your test, it is recommended not to douche, use vaginal creams, suppositories, foams, or vaginal
medications (like for a yeast infection). It is recommended not to have sexual intercourse within 24 hours of your
test. All of these can cause inaccurate results by washing away or hiding abnormal cells. The Pap test should be
performed on a day when you are not having any menstrual bleeding.
How is a Pap Test Performed?
You will be asked to lie down on an exam table and put your feet in stirrups. A healthcare provider uses a speculum
to open the vagina so he/she can see the cervix and obtain a Pap test sample. A small swab is used to collect a
sample of cervical cells. Obtaining the sample of cervical cells is not painful. The sample and patient information are
sent to a clinical laboratory for further processing, screening and diagnosis. Any abnormality is further reviewed by a
Pathologist.
What Are the Risks of the Pap Test?
There are no risks from the Pap test. Occasionally women will have a small amount of bleeding or spotting from the
vagina after the test. This is not uncommon in pregnant women particularly because the cervix tends to bleed more
easily during pregnancy.
How Long Does a Pap Test Take?
When part of a routine pelvic exam, the Pap test takes about 2-3 minutes.
How Long Does it Take to Get Pap Test Results?
It typically takes 1-2 weeks for Pap test results to be reported at many centers. You will be notified of your Pap test
results by your healthcare practitioner.
What Happens if My Pap test is Abnormal?
Depending on the specific results of your Pap test and your medical history, your physician may:
 Perform additional testing
 Request you return for another Pap test, or
 Perform a colposcopy
A colposcopy is a procedure done in an office or clinic with an instrument call a colposcope that acts like a
microscope, allowing your healthcare provider to closely see the vagina and cervix. Your healthcare provider may
take a small amount of tissue from the cervix, called a biopsy, to examine for any abnormal cells.
What Increases a Woman’s Risk for Cervical Cancer?
Any woman can get cancer of the cervix. Chances of getting cervical cancer increase when a woman:
 Starts having intercourse before age 18
 Has many sexual partners
 Has sexual partners who have other sexual partners
 Has or has had human papilloma virus (HPV) or genital warts
 Has or has had a sexually transmitted disease
 Is over the age of 60
 Smokes
What Can I Do to Protect Myself?
See your healthcare provider every year for a women’s health exam. You may not need a Pap test every year, but
you still need yearly visits with your healthcare provider. Follow-up as your healthcare provider recommends. Limit
your number of sexual partners, ALWAYS use condoms, and don’t smoke!
August 2015