Conditions - Tests And Screenings -

All about Pap tests

What is a Pap test?

A Pap test or Pap smear checks for changes in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the womb, which opens into the vagina. The test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cervical cells, or cervical cancer.

Do all women need Pap tests?

It is important for all women to have pap tests, along with pelvic exams, as part of their routine health care. You need a Pap test if you are:

  • 21 years or older
  • Under 21 years old and have been sexually active for three years or more

There is no age limit for the Pap test. Even women who have gone through menopause (when a woman's periods stop) need regular Pap tests.

How often do I need to get a Pap test?

It depends on your age and health history, so talk with your doctor about what's best for you. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the following:

  • If you are younger than 30 years old, you should get a Pap test every year.
  • If you are age 30 or older and have had three normal Pap tests for three years in a row, talk to your doctor about spacing out Pap tests to every two or three years.
  • If you are ages 65 to 70 and have had at least three normal Pap tests and no abnormal Pap tests in the last 10 years, ask your doctor if you can stop having Pap tests.

You should have a Pap test every year no matter how old you are if:

  • You have a weakened immune system because of organ transplant, chemotherapy or steroid use
  • Your mother was exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant
  • You are HIV-positive

Women who are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are at a higher risk of cervical cancer and other cervical diseases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all HIV positive women get an initial Pap test, and get re-tested 6 months later. If both Pap tests are normal, then these women can get yearly Pap tests in the future. All women should start getting pap tests about three years after they first have vaginal sex. All women should be getting pap tests by the time they are 21 years old.

What about women who have had a hysterectomy?

  • Women who have had a hysterectomy still need to get pap tests. This surgery takes out the womb (uterus) but NOT the cervix.
  • Women who have had a total hysterectomy may stop getting pap tests. This surgery takes out the womb and cervix.
  • Even after stopping pap smears, all women should get a pelvic exam every year.

How is a Pap test done?

Your doctor can do a Pap test during a pelvic exam. It is a simple and quick test. While you lie on an exam table, the doctor puts an instrument called a speculum into your vagina, opening it to see the cervix. She will then use a special stick or brush to take a few cells from inside and around the cervix. The cells are placed on a glass slide and sent to a lab for examination. While usually painless, a Pap test is uncomfortable for some women.

Preparing for a Pap test

For about 2 days before a pap test, DO NOT:

  • Have sex
  • Douche
  • Use tampons
  • Use birth control that is put into the vagina, like foam, cream, or jelly
  • Use any medicine that is put into the vagina
  • Use a vaginal lubrication
  • Use feminine deodorant sprays or powders
  • Swim
  • Take a tub bath

Do not have a pap test if you are having your period, as it can make it harder to detect cells that are not normal.