What is PAP smear and when and how often is it indicated ?

Answer 1

As the previous poster explained a pap smear is a screening tool to check to make sure that a woman doesn't have cervical cancer. There can be a bit of irritation from the special brush used to take some of the cells from the cervix to check to make sure there is no cancer. B/c of the irritation there can be a bit of spotting for a couple days afterward and this is normal.

As for how often it's done it's either done at age 21 or when someone has sex for the first time, whichever comes first. The major organizations that have guidelines about pap smears will say that if your pap smear is normal for 3 years in a row then you can get a pap smear 3 years after that as the previous poster said. But many insurance companies cover the pap smear annually as a preventive measure to women's health. (thes are the updated guidelines, when I first started getting them it was 18 that they recommend that it start)

I get my pap smear annually not only b/c of why many insurance companies do it but also because I have other health issues that require regular monitoring.

As for the pap smear being painless the previous poster is correct that most of the time it is not painless but for some women such as myself it can be because we have medical issues that make it painful.

Answer 2

A speculum examination is done and a scraping taken from the cervix of uterus using a wooden spatula. This is a painless out patient procedure and does not need any anaesthesia. The scrapings from the cervix is smeared on to a glass slide and sent to the pathologist to study. Since the cause of this cancer has its origin in sexual activity, screening should be started from the time sexual activity commences. Screening ang PAP smear examination are recommended once in 3 years in low risk groups and annually in high risk groups. High risk group involves those who have multiple sexual partners , who have AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases.