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 ...

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 ...

During a Pap smear, the medical provider swabs the patient's cervix to collect a cell sample. The cell sample is then sent to a lab, where pathologists analyze the sample under a microscope to check ...

Dr. Carla Picardo wants to clear up the confusion about pap smears. A pap smear is a routine procedure to test for cervical cancer in women. Cells are collected from a woman's cervix — the lower, ...

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 ...

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to remind ourselves that routine screenings are a critical part of our wellness routines. Cervical cancer is among the most preventable ...

Patients may be able to now use a long swab to collect samples for HPV testing — skipping the sometimes painful pap smear Getty (2) A new self-administered test for HPV — the virus that causes most ...

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.