What is the purpose of a Pap smear?
A Pap smear detects changes in your cervical cells. The test doesn’t definitively diagnose cervical cancer but does help your doctor determine if you need further exams.
What happens during a Pap smear?
A Pap smear is usually performed during a routine pelvic exam. Your doctor at Georgia Center for Women uses a swab or brush to collect a sampling of cells from your cervix. The test is brief and you may feel some pressure during the collection, but it’s generally pain-free.
Who needs a Pap smear?
All women age 21-65 benefit from getting regular Pap smears. Usually, you should begin to get them at age 21, but you and your doctor at Georgia Center for Women can decide the right schedule for you depending on your medical history, family history, and sexual activity.
How often should a woman get a Pap smear?
Most women should get a Pap smear every three years. If you have a history of normal Pap smears, your doctor may switch you to getting a Pap smear once every five years.
But, you may need more frequent Pap smears if you have certain risk factors, including:
- A previous diagnosis of cervical cancer or a history of Pap smears that show precancerous cells
- HIV infection
- Weakened immune system
- A history of smoking
You may end Pap testing if you’ve had a total hysterectomy or are older than 65.
What do the results of a Pap smear mean?
If your Pap results come back normal, it means no abnormal cells were found. Abnormal results (often referred to as positive) do not mean you have cervical cancer. In most cases, an abnormal test means you have cell changes caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection. Sometimes, cervical cells appear irregular due to the natural process of aging or an infection.
Depending on your test results, your doctor at Georgia Center for Women may ask that you repeat a Pap smear in a few months to see if the abnormal cells resolve on their own. In other cases, they may recommend a more in-depth evaluation of your cervix known as a colposcopy.
To schedule your Pap smear, call the Georgia Center for Women location that’s most convenient for you or book using the online tool.
