What exactly is a pap smear?!
Question: Ive heard differnt things about them... and im just curious and what it is, and what it feels like and if it hurts. Oh and can it tell if you've had sex before.
Thanks :]
Answers: Ive heard differnt things about them... and im just curious and what it is, and what it feels like and if it hurts. Oh and can it tell if you've had sex before.
Thanks :]
A pap smear is a test that your gynecologist should perform when you become sexually active, or when you turn 18, whichever comes first.
The doctor will insert a speculum into your vagina, to open up your vaginal cavity and give the doctor a clear view of your cervix, at the back of your vagina. He/She will then take a swab and swipe it against your cervix to take a cell sample and send it off to a lab to check for irregular or pre-cancerous cells. This should be uncomfortable at worst, but not painful.
Also, there is no test that anyone, even a doctor, can perform to tell if you're a virgin or not. It's just impossible.
They smear yo pap!
You're meant to get one when you've had sex or when you turn 18 whichever comes first.
I am not quite sure but what I heard is that it can tell around 75% that you've had sex before.
you should only get one if you are having sex! but no they don't hurt they are uncomfortable though but they don't take long.. they stick a duck looking thing up there and open you up a bit and swab ya.. if you are having sex GET ONE DONE
IT's pretty much a test for cervical cancer, pap cause the Dr who invented it, was named papanicolao (or somethign close to that). Yes I've had sex before, and I think you have to start going to an OB/Gyn when you get your period, depends on your Dr. No it doesn't hurt, but it isn't the most comfortable thing in the world.
A Pap smear (Pap test) is a way to look at a sample of cells taken from a woman's cervix. The test is used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix that show cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer.
All women who are or who have been sexually active, or who have reached age 21, should have an annual Pap smear. It is your best tool to detect pre-cancerous conditions and hidden, small tumors that may lead to cervical cancer. If detected early, cervical cancer can be cured.
Check out this link for more: http://women.webmd.com/guide/pap-smear
A Pap Smear is a cellular sample taken from the endocervical canal and/or vagina. The specimen is collected and fixed with a preservative to keep the cells from becoming distorted. The specimen is then delivered to a laboratory where it is prepped with special techniques and stains and then screened by a Cytotechnologist. It doesn't hurt it's just really weird and yes i'm about 97% sure they can tell if your sexually active by this test.
The doctor takes a swab sample from inside your privates and sends that to a lab to be tested for the presence of any cancerous cells in or around your cervex :o)
They take a small scraping of cervical cells and analyze them to insure that none are cancerous. Does not hurt, some women may feel slight discomfort --- not usually. It is not designed to reveal sexual activity, but it is very important that you are honest with your gynecologist about all of your sexual history (this is completely confidential) and necessary for your optimum treatment. You should get a pap smear every year when you become sexually active and make sure you get the vaccines against HPV as well.
I can't believe some of the garbage ppl on here will write!
A pap smear is a normal part of a gynecological exam. The doctor will take a long-handled q-tip type swab and just insert it into you a wipe it along the side of your vagina/cervix. Then he/she will put the swab into a test tube, cap it off, and send it to the lab to be cultured.
It doesn't hurt. They're just looking for abnormalities to catch possible diseases in their earliest stages, when they are most treatable.
Yes, I've had sex.
EDIT: My doctor uses a q-tip sort of thing, but the other answerers who gave you the correct answer are also right about the metal thing...either way, it doesn't hurt.
Its when they take a little silver instrument and insert it into your vagina to scrape some of the cells from your cervix to check for cervical cancer, sometimes it can be a little painful and can make you bleed a little, but not for long and its nothing too drastic, theyre definatly worth having. They probably can tell if you have had sex before but patient doctor confidentaility prevents them from saying anything to anyone about it. It is certainly not where they put your breats in a machine and scan them like one of the previous answers said, that is a mammogram and thats to check for breast cancer
When they do a pap smear, the take a small sample of the lining of your uterus to test for cancer. It can be uncomfortable, not painful per se unless you're very sensitive. You may spot a bit afterwards, but nothing much. Yes, your gynecologist can tell whether or not your hymen has been ruptured during an internal examination.
A pap smear is when a doctor who specialize in the female body check the reproductive system for any cancers and STD's. You should get one if you started having sex and when you turn 18 years old.
What is a Pap smear?
A Pap smear is a test your doctor does to check for signs of cancer of the cervix. The cervix is part of your uterus (womb). During a Pap smear, your doctor takes a sample of cells from your cervix to be tested.
To take the sample, your doctor will put a special instrument called a speculum into your vagina. This helps open your vagina so the sample can be taken. Your doctor will gently clean your cervix with a cotton swab and then collect a sample of cells with a small brush, a tiny spatula or a cotton swab. This sample is put on a glass slide and sent to a lab to be checked.
What is the sample checked for?
The cells on the slide are checked for signs that they're changing from normal. Cells go through a series of changes before they turn into cancer. A Pap smear can show if your cells are going through these changes long before you have cancer. Cervical cancer is not life-threatening if it's caught early. This is why getting regular Pap smears is so important.
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What do the results mean?
A negative Pap smear means that your results are normal. A positive Pap smear means that your results aren't normal.
A positive Pap smear can be a sign of a number of changes in the cells on your cervix:
Inflammation (irritation). This can be caused by an infection of the cervix, including a yeast infection, infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) or herpes virus, or many other infections.
Very early signs of cancer. These changes are called dysplasia.
More serious signs of cancer. These changes affect the top layers of the cervix but don't go beyond the cervix. This is called "carcinoma in situ."
When should I have Pap smears?
You should have your first Pap smear when you start having sex or by age 18.
Continue having a Pap smear once a year until you've had at least 3 normal ones. After this, you should have a Pap smear at least every 3 years, unless your doctor thinks you need them more often. Keep having Pap smears throughout your life, even after you've gone through menopause.
Certain things put you at higher risk of cervical cancer. Your doctor will consider these when recommending how often you should have a Pap smear.
If you're older than 65, talk with your doctor about how often you need a Pap smear. If you've been having Pap smears regularly and they've been negative, you may not need to keep having them.
How reliable is the test?
No test is perfect, but the Pap smear is a reliable test. It has helped drastically lower the number of women who die of cervical cancer.
Sometimes the test may need to be redone because there were not enough cells on the slide. The lab will tell your doctor if this happens.
ThinPrep, PAPNET and FocalPoint are ways to make Pap smears more accurate. ThinPrep is a way of preparing the sample of cells that makes it easier to spot abnormalities. PAPNET and FocalPoint are computer systems that help lab technicians find abnormal cells. These options may not be available in all areas, and they may increase the cost of a Pap smear.
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What should I do before the test?
Plan to have your test done at a time when you aren't having your menstrual period. Don't douche, use a feminine deodorant or have sex for 24 hours before the test.
What happens if I have a positive Pap smear?
If the results of your Pap smear are positive, your doctor may want to do another Pap smear or may want you to have a colposcopy.
A colposcopy gives your doctor a better look at your cervix and allows him or her to take a sample of tissue (called a biopsy). Your doctor will use an instrument called a colposcope to shine a light on your cervix and magnify it. Your doctor will explain the results and discuss treatment options with you.