Pap Smear and HPV Test

Pap smears save lives! This test checks for cervical cancer and other issues by collecting cells from your cervix. Don’t skip your screening—it could make all the difference.

A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women. During a Pap smear, your healthcare provider collects cells from your cervix — the lower, narrow end of your uterus that’s at the top of your vagina. A Pap smear may also detect certain infections and inflammation.

What can a Pap smear detect?

• Cervical Cancer
• Potentially precancerous cells in the cervix.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common Sexually transmitted Infections (STI) that increases the risk of cervical cancer.

How should I prepare for a Pap smear?

Some things that you do in the days before a Pap smear can affect test results. For the most accurate results, you should:

• Not have vaginal sex for two days before your exam
• Not use tampons, vaginal creams or medicines, birth control foams or jellies, lubricants or douches for at least two days before the test.
• Schedule the appointment at least five days after your period ends.

Who needs a Pap Smear?

• Women between the ages of 21 and 65
• Women who have been vaccinated against HPV (human papillomavirus)
• Women who have a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, organ transplant, or long-term corticosteroid use
• Women who have had abnormal Pap smear results in the past
• Women who have had a hysterectomy (with removal of the cervix) for a non-cancerous condition, unless the hysterectomy was done as a treatment for cervical precancer or cancer

Symptoms:

Many people don’t have symptoms of cervical cancer, particularly pain, until it has progressed to a more advanced stage. Most common symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding when you’re not on your period
• Heavy periods
• Unusual vaginal discharge, sometimes with a foul odor
• Painful sex
• Pelvic pain
• Pain when urinating

The test is used to check a sample of cervical cells for signs of infection with high-risk HPV that can lead to cervical cancer. The test is often done at the same time as a Pap smear, which is a test that checks cervical cells for abnormal changes caused by HPV. When an HPV test and a Pap smear are done at the same time, it’s called an HPV/Pap cotest.