Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pap Smear?

Pap Smear is also known as Pap Test and is a screening test usually done to detect cervical cancer. This test is done to check the presence of cancerous or pre-cancerous tissues or cells on the cervix (opening of the uterus). The cells from the cervix are gently scraped and given for examination during the Pap Smear. This test is to be done at the doctor’s office. Pap Smear might cause mild discomfort as the instruments are inserted through the vagina but generally doesn’t cause any long-term pain.

Who should go for Pap Smear?

1. After the age of 21, every woman should go for Pap Smear once in every 3 years. 
2. If a woman is HIV Positive, weak immune system, recent organ transplant, etc should go for Pap Smear more often than usual.

Can Pap Smear detect HPV?

1. The main purpose of Pap Smear is to identify cellular level changes in the cervix hence Pap Smear can detect HPV because HPV causes cellular changes in the cervix. 
2. HPV can come in contact from having sex with men or women. Hence, to avoid contracting the virus, contraception such as a condom or another barrier method should be practised. 
3. Hence, all sexually active women should go for Pap Smear every 3 years to avoid the HPV virus as well as other fatal diseases.

How often should Pap Smear be done?

Frequency of getting a Pap Smear depends on the age and risks:

1. Girls below 21 years of age - not needed.
2. Women between the ages of 21 to 29 - every 3 years.
3. Women between the ages of 30 to 65 - every 5 years.
4. Women who are 65 years or older - not needed unless some medical condition.

Women who have undergone a hysterectomy and don’t have a history of cervical cancer need not go for Pap Smear.

What are the preparations for Pap smear?

1. After making an appointment with a Gynecologist, the woman may avoid few things a day prior to the test such as sexual intercourse, spermicidal medication, douching, etc. 
2. If a woman is menstruating on the day of the test, then ask the doctor to reschedule the appointment. 
3. Pap Smear is safe to be done until 24 weeks of pregnancy, after that the test may be painful and risky. 
4. After giving birth, the woman should go for Pap Smear after 12 weeks to get more accurate results. 
5. Pap Smear goes smoothly if the woman is calm and relaxed, hence the woman who is nervous or scared should take deep breaths and relax.

How is Pap Smear done?

1. The patient will be asked to lie on the examination bed on the back with the spread legs and on the stirrups. 
2. Then the doctor will insert an instrument called a speculum to dilate the vaginal wall to get access to the cervix easily. 
3. A small amount of tissue is scraped from the cervix wall by using either of the following instruments:

• Spatula
• Spatula and a brush
• Cytobrush (a combination of spatula and brush)

1. During scraping the cervix, women might feel irritation or a slight push for a brief moment. 
2. The sample collected will be preserved and sent to the lab for screening. 
3. Mild cramping, irritation or blood spots may be seen after the test, but it goes away in a day. 
4. If the symptoms still persist after a day, the woman should immediately consult a doctor.

How the results of Pap Smear interpreted?

There are two possible outcomes of the test:

1. A normal or negative result
2. An abnormal or positive result

If the test result is abnormal that doesn’t mean that the condition will be life-threatening. There are several levels of abnormal cells such as:

1. Atypia
2. Mild-most common
3. Moderate
4. Severe dysplasia
5. Carcinoma 

Depending on the test results, the doctor might advise getting Pap Smear more frequently and to get closer look colposcopy and biopsy can also be advised.