Depending on your results and what your doctor recommends, you should be going for a Pap Smear once or twice a year. The Pap Test, also called the Pap Smear, "checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus... that opens into the vagina" (Source= http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/pap-test.cfm#a). During the test, a doctor or gynecologist inserts a speculum into the vagina, allowing him/her to collect a number of cells from the outer opening of the cervix. The test lasts a maximum of 5 minutes and is uncomfortable at times, but is virtually painless.
I cannot stress how important it is for young girls and women to get at least an annual pap test. Pap tests can help prevent, and treat cervical cancer; they also screen for HPV (Human Pappillomavirus), which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. The test can also help to detect many STD's/STI's. Nothing really negative can be said about the pap test, and so, please, GET YOUR PAP!!!!!!!!!!!!
On a side note, some things to remember at least 2 days before getting your pap are:
- Do not use vaginal creams, foams or jellies
- Do not have sex
- Do not use tampons
Doing any of these activities on the days before your pap can cause incorrect results. If you forget and do one of the above activities, talk to your doctor about whether or not you should reschedule your pap for another day.
Talk to your doctor/gynecologist if you have any questions about HPV, Cervical Cancer, or the Pap.
If you would like to take the Woman's Health Magazine's Online Quiz on Cervical Cancer, click on this link: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/cervical-cancer-quiz
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