What is a Pap test?

The Pap test (also called a Pap smear) checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens into the vagina (birth canal). The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cells, or cancer.

Why do I need a Pap test?

A Pap test can save your life. It can find cancer of the cervix - a common cancer in women - before it moves to other parts of your body (becomes invasive). If caught early, treatment for cancer of the cervix can be easier and the chances of curing it are far greater. Pap tests can also pick up infections and inflammation, and abnormal cells that can change into cancer cells.

Do all women need Pap tests?

It is important for all women to make pap tests, along with pelvic exams, a part of their routine health care. You need to have a Pap test if you are sexually active and over 18 years old or as advised by your doctor. There is no age limit for the Pap test. Even women who have gone through menopause (the change of life, or when a woman's periods stop) need to get Pap tests.

My friend had a hysterectomy - does she still need a Pap test?

Women who have had a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus) should talk with their doctor about whether they need to continue having routine Pap tests. If the hysterectomy was done because a woman had cancer or a pre-cancerous condition, the end of the vagina still needs to be tested for abnormal changes. Women who have had both their uterus and cervix removed may not need routine Pap tests. Women who have had only the uterus removed (and still have their cervix) need regular Pap tests. It is important for all women who have had a hysterectomy to have regular pelvic exams.

How often do I need to get a Pap test?

Many doctors tell women to get a Pap test every year. But, your doctor may recommend a Pap test every 1 to 3 years after you have had 3 normal Pap tests for 3 years in a row. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.

For two days before the test, you should not douche or use vaginal creams, suppositories, foams or vaginal medications (like for a fungal infection). It is also best to not use any vaginal deodorant sprays or powders for two days before your test. And, do not have sexual intercourse within 24 hours of your test. All of these can cause inaccurate test results by washing away or hiding abnormal cells. You should not have a Pap test when you have your period. The best time to have one is between 10 and 20 days after the first day of your last period.

How is a Pap test done?

Your doctor can do a Pap test during a pelvic exam. It is a quick test that takes only a few minutes. You will be asked to lie down on an exam table. The doctor will put an instrument called a speculum into your vagina, opening it to see the cervix and to do the Pap test. He will use a special stick, brush or swab to take a few cells from inside and around the cervix. The cells are placed on a small glass slide, and then checked by a lab to make sure they are healthy. While painless for most women, a Pap test can cause discomfort for some women.

A doctor may tell you that your Pap test result was "abnormal." Cells from the cervix can sometimes look abnormal but this does not mean you have cancer. Remember, abnormal conditions do not always turn into cancer. And, some conditions are more likely than are others to turn into cancer. If you have abnormal results, be sure to talk with your doctor to find out what they mean and what you need to do (if anything) about it.

What will happen if my Pap test finds something that is not normal?

If the Pap test shows something confusing or a minor change in the cells of the cervix, the test may be done again. If the test shows a major change in the cells of the cervix, the doctor may perform a colposcopy. This is a procedure done in an office or clinic with an instrument (called a colposcope) that acts like a microscope, allowing the doctor to closely see the vagina and the cervix. Your doctor may also take a small amount of tissue from the cervix (biopsy) to examine for any abnormal cells, which can be a sign of cancer.

One type of STD, called HPV, or the human papilloma virus, has been linked to cancer of the cervix. HPV can cause wart-like growths on the genitals. When it is not treated or happens frequently, HPV can increase a woman's chances of developing cancer of the cervix. HPV is a very common STD, especially in younger women and women with more than one sexual partner.

What increases a woman's risk for cancer of the cervix?

Any woman can get cancer of the cervix. But, the chances of getting cancer of the cervix increase when a woman:

	Starts having sex before age 18.
	Has many sexual partners.
	Has sexual partners who have other sexual partners.
	Has or has had human papilloma virus (HPV) or genital warts.
	Has or has had a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
	Is over the age of 60.
	Smokes