A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is an exam a doctor uses to find out if you have cervical cancer. The test can also see changes in your cervical cells that may turn into cancer later.

When a Pap smear indicates inflammation, it means that the cervical cells appear irritated. This doesn’t automatically point to cancer but can result from a number of benign or infectious causes ...

A Pap smear involves collecting a sample from the cervix to test for abnormal cells that are cancerous or could lead to cervical cancer. The procedure typically only lasts for a minute, if that.

The Pap smear detects changes in cervical cells before they become cancerous, allowing doctors to act early and prevent the ...

Berens noted that while some aspects of Pap and HPV testing have remained the same -- using a speculum to access the cervix, taking a sample of cells, and having it tested in a lab to look for ...

But, as you point out in your letter, Pap smears are an important part of preventive care. It is recommended that women start getting tested for cervical cancer at age 21 and have a Pap smear ...

A Pap smear is a vital screening tool for early detection of cervical cancer, ... (HPV), a common virus that can cause cervical cells to become cancerous. Pap test to start at the age of 21 years.

Image Credit: Kzenon/Shutterstock.com. Understanding Pap smears. A cervical smear is a test that uses cells collected with a small spatula or soft brush from the uterine cervix.

Despite the Pap smear’s effectiveness, the drop in cervical cancer deaths has leveled off since 2008. In the United States, about 11,500 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and ...

A Pap smear looks for abnormal cells that could indicate cancer down the line. arcyto - stock.adobe.com. The primary cause for cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus.

Getting a Pap smear isn’t among my favorite things to do, ranking somewhere between eating cauliflower (ugh) and going to the dentist (worse). I usually find the experience awkward, but it has ...