A Pap smear is a procedure that involves collecting cells from the cervix for testing. It also is called a Pap test. Healthcare professionals sometimes call it cervical cytology. A Pap test is often used to look for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical ...
Screening with Pap tests can reduce the risk of this cancer that begins in the cervix. Learn more about symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment.
Do virgins need Pap smears? Yes. Doctors recommend routine cervical cancer screening, regardless of your sexual history. Tests used to screen for cervical cancer include the Pap test and the HPV test. Your doctor can help you understand whether one or both of these tests is best for you. The purpose of a Pap test is to collect cells from the ...
Learn what to expect if a Pap test shows cells that look different from typical cervical cells. Follow-up tests might include HPV testing and colposcopy.
A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is used for cervical cancer screening. Learn how it's done and what the results might mean.
Back in May of this year, the FDA approved a new method of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in a healthcare setting. Rather than a standard Pap smear performed with a speculum -- a test dreaded by ...
Annalisa (Nalis) Merelli is a contributing writer at STAT focused on boys’ and men’s health. Pap smears must be a strong contender for the worst best thing to happen to gynecology. The test, alongside ...