During the routine procedure, cells from your cervix are gently scraped away and examined for abnormal growth. The procedure is done at your doctor’s office. It may be mildly uncomfortable, but ...

A Pap smear is a procedure that screens for cervical cancer by testing cells for any abnormalities. If your Pap results are abnormal that does not mean you have cancer, and more likely indicates HPV.

Many women dread getting their regular Pap smears. The procedure, which involves scraping cells from the cervix to check for HPV and cancer, is often uncomfortable for patients. But a new at-home exam ...

A pap smear, sometimes called a pap test, is a procedure that screens for cervical cancer — and is typically done during an annual well-woman visit with a gynecologist. In this article, we discuss how ...

I was 23 when I had my first pap smear, and I didn’t even know what the procedure tested for. I was 23 when I had my first pap smear, and I didn’t even know what the procedure tested for. While out ...

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about Pap smears. A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a routine screening test for early diagnosis of cervical ...

Dear Doctors: It’s time for my daughter to have a Pap smear, but she’s putting it off because it was so painful last time. I wonder if switching to a female doctor might help? It’s a very unpleasant ...

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) self-sampling promises to make the process of screening for cervical cancer easier, more comfortable—and, for some, less traumatic—than a traditional Pap test, offering ...

During a Pap smear the most uncomfortable part will be when the doctor inserts a speculum into your vagina. However, the pain should be minimal and brief. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images A Pap smear is a ...