Pap tests, or pap smears, are common components of OB-GYN visits that screen for cervical cancer. If you are about to undergo your first pap test, it’s normal to have questions and wonder more about this routine procedure. Let the following guide help. 

What to Know About Pap Smears

How They Work

The cervix is the uterine opening that can experience cellular changes, often because of the human papillomavirus, or HPV. This common virus can cause cervical cancer, among other types of cancer, in men and women. To collect cervical cells for testing, you’ll lie on a table undressed from the waist down with your feet in stirrups. The OB-GYN professional inserts a speculum, a type of metal or plastic tool that keeps the vagina open, to access cervical cells. They use a cotton swab to carefully scrape cervical cells, then place the swab in a jar featuring a liquid substance that keeps the cells active for lab testing. 

Pap smears typically take between 5 and 10 minutes and are not painful, though you might feel mild discomfort from the speculum. If you are menstruating at the time of your appointment, you’ll need to reschedule. Heavy menstrual bleeding interferes with lab results. 

Why They’re Important

These tests are essential for cancer screenings, since the presence of abnormal cells allows you to take preventative measures and therefore reduce your disease risk. For example, high-grade abnormal cells caused by HPV can call for various procedures that burn or freeze the detrimental cells from the cervix. The LEEP procedure is considered one of the most effective, since it uses a hot surgical loop to remove the abnormal cells and can prevent them from returning. 

How often you need a pap test depends on your age and whether you have HPV. If you are between the ages of 21 and 29 and do not have HPV, for example, you can schedule pap smears every three years. 

Schedule your pap test at Chewelah Associated Physicians, the rural family health center in Chewelah, WA providing OB-GYN services, among many others. Same-day appointments are available for patients with acute illnesses or other medical emergencies. Call (509) 935-8711 today to make an appointment or for more about OB-GYN services.