Alright ladies I'm really nervous that I'm having my first pap smear done, what should I expect?

Question

What exactly do they do at a pap smear?
I also was wondering if they take a blood test too for like Aids, if not I'm going to ask for one and I'm also going to get the HPV shot. Just so I'm extra safe! I need to know how all these things go and what exactly do they at a pap smear?

Answer 1

For me the hardest part was having to totally open my legs up. I would suggest a female OB-Gyn, or ask for a few minutes to speak with the physician before you disrobe. When I was young it was odd to me, but here goes...You will get a robe and a sheet, you will place the robe with the opening in the front if you are getting a breast exam. Ask the doctor to show you and tell you what they are doing, so that you know how to do a self-exam.

You will sit on the exam table, and place the sheet over your lap. The doctor will come in and summon a nurse. They will ask you to scoot your bottom almost to the edge of the table, and lay back. They will place your feet in the stirrips for support. They will ask you to completely spread your legs. You will feel "out there," but it is that was dfor all of us.

The doctor will use a gelly on his fingers to insert his hands in to the Vagina and do a check of the size of your uterus and ovaries. One hand will be on your stomach so that he can do the exam. They have to insert their hand to push the uterus up so the doctor can use the pressue to ddetermine size, which changes over the years.

Then the doctor will inset a speculum, which will dilate the vagina so that they can see the cervix. There are visual clues as well as the pap smear. Ask if it is metal, and if it is, ask the doctor to run warm water over it first. While this is happening, they will use a wooden stick to scrape cells from various places on the cervix for the slide. It can feel uncomfortable because you will never have that feeling any other time. It is not painful.

The cells are placed on a slide for a lab technician to view under a microscope. They will look for cells that are cancerous. If anything is not right you will be asked to take second test. Now, if you turn up with a yeast infection or something the doctor will take that into consideration.

I reccommend you ask for the THIN PREP TEST. It is more accurate. You will also be tested for Chalymida, a common STD. If you are young, I strongly suggest you get the vaccine for HPV Virus (Human Papilloma Virus) in case you would be exposed to it. HPV is too common to assume you will never get it. If you are planning on children, this could also be seen as a measure of protecting your fertility.

HPV is found by using vinegar on the cervix. The cells will show up because of the vinegar. If you are clear, get the vaccine!!! HPV greatly increases your chances of getting Cancer of the Sexual Organs.

An annual exam should be done without fail. Ovarian Cancer is more often detected earlier by pelvic exam. Keep with the same doctor if possible so that there is a longevity record of the doctors notations. Should you move, transfer your file.

One last thing: I had a OB GYN who was competent, but he was too rough, I had to stay with him because no other doctors were taking new patients. ASK other women, your friend's mother's for a recopmmendation. You will hear a lot about bad ones. I think that you should be as confortable as possible, but here in the USA the insurance company usually tells you who to go to.

Good Luck, do it for life, and don't fail to go every year!!!! Don't sleep with a guy until you have been friends first! Any guy will tell you he loves you to get in the sack! Use a condom even if you are on Birth Control. Keep your partners to exclusive relationships only. Do not go without a condom unless you are in a monogamous relationship. Get an AIDS test done (both of you) before you take that condom off. All of these measures will protect your fertility.

If you are taking Birth Control, ask the doctor for the pills you can take and not have a period! It was great! Some doctors will tell you it is not healthy, but there are many sources and doctors on the Net that say otherwise. The pill is what is referred to as a single dose. This will work for you until periomenopause starts. It beats PMS, pimples, and mood swings!

By the time you are 40 and have experienced other exams, and tests, you will wonder what you worried about. RELAX!

Answer 2

No sweat. It is nothing to worry about. The only preparation you need is to possibly 'clean up' down there. You will have to fill out some paperwork. You will need insurance info, date of last period, questions about your periods (heavy/ light, how often, when did you first start, etc) You will be asked to completely undress (the doctor/nurse will step out of the room) then you will be given a paper or cloth gown that will open up the front. When the doctor returns, she may do a complete physical -- heart rate, blood pressure, breast exam, weight, height, etc.) She will probably also want to take some blood to check for anemia, hormone levels, etc. You will climb up on a table, put your feet into stirrups and the doctor will insert a speculum to hold you open. She may exam you with a fingertip first. The actual pap smear is just a long cotton swab that is run around your cervix. It may feel a bit odd but it should not hurt. The cotton swab will be sent off to be examined for abnormal cervical cells. The results should come back in a week or two. Your doctor will call you or send you a post card with the results. The actual pap smear probably only lasts a couple of minutes but if the doctor does a complete exam, you can expect to be at her office for at least an hour or so. It is OK to be nervous but this is a very routine exam. Since it is your first, the doctor may want to get your complete medical history to make sure she (and you) do everything possible to ensure a healthy baby and a good delivery. Good luck!

Answer 3

They do not test your for STD'S unless you ask for it. If you want to get checked ask to be checked for ALL STD's not just HIV. At the docs office the nurse will check your temp and blood pressure etc just like usual. She will ask if you have your period, when your last one was, are you sexually active etc. DO NOT LIE. They do not tell anyone what you tell them but if you lie there could be health problems they may not look for. The nurse will have you undress either from the waist down or all of your clothes depending on their proceedure. She will have you sit on the exam table in a gown or covered with a sheet. The doc will come in and have you lie down and put your feet in the stirrups. He will insert a plastic speculum in your vagina to hold it open so he can see better. THIS DOES NOT HURT. He will visually look at the vagina to be sure the tissue looks healthy etc, He will take a small slim wooden tongue depressor looking thing and gently swab a few cells from your cervix for the pap smear, THIS DOES NOT HURT EIITHER and if it does hurt tell the doc so he can fix it. He will then take the speculum out and insert two fingers of one hand while he presses on your abdomen to check your ovaries etc. If he is doing a breast exam he will do that. That is ALL that happens with a pap and pelvic exam. You will then get dressed. If you ask for STD testing he may take a couple more swabs from your vagina but that depends on how they run their tests. The rest of the STD testing is via a blood sample and urine sample. The HPV shot is a 3 series shot so you will have to come back when they tell you for the second and third of those shots. That will be the end of your exam and the doc will ask if you have an questions or concerns and you are done.

Answer 4

You sound like a smart young lady. I think its great to ask for a Aids test, especially if you have had any kind of sexual contact with anyone. They dont normally take blood at a pap smear. Everyone here has explained the pap smear very well. Its a long q-tip that they touch you inside with, it does not hurt.

I would like you to talk to your parents or the doctor about the HPV.
Be sure you are not a guinea pig for the PROFIT of MERCK dont be afraid to question anyone in authority. Here are a few Q/A's for you to consider after having taken the time to RESEARCH this 'medical miracle':
Q: Will boys be given Gardasil (the vaccine agent)?
A: Because there is no information about the effectiveness of Gardasil in boys at this time, Gardasil will only be administered to girls.
Q: What are the possible reproduction harmful effects of Gardasil?
A: From Merck's website - It is not known whether Gardasil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or if it can affect reproductive capacity.
Q: What are the ingredients in Gardasil?
A: From Merck's website - The main ingredients are purified inactive proteins that COME FROM HPV TYPES 6, 11, 16, AND 18. It also contains amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, sodium chloride, L-histidine, polysorborbate 80, sodium borate, and water for injection.
NOTE: For those too young to recall Thalidomide -the drug approved in the 1950's-60's to alleviate morning sickness in pregnant women - resulted in countless babies born with flipper-like arms and legs, missing fingers, toes and/or organs. Another similar drug introduced in 1983 by Merrell Dow was quickly withdrawn again with claims of birth defects.

Answer 5

They do a PAP to test for cancer. No blood is taken for a PAP.
If your feet get cold, you may want to wear socks!
They will have you undress & put on one of those lovely paper gowns that never fit anyone but Spongebob. Then the have you get up on the table & scoot down so your lower half will be hanging off a little & put your feet into stirrups. They insert a speculum (it's kind of cone shaped with a little light on it) & then open it up. It pinches a little but isn't too bad. They will then use what looks like a large q-tip & take a swab from your uterus. After they remove the speculum, they will insert fingers (lubricated) into both front & back to check the glands there to make sure they are not swollen. They may also palpate your abdomen (just soft little pushes in various areas) to make sure you are not experiencing abdominal tenderness. They may also do a breast exam - that's just a series of small pushes & pats to detect any lumps.

That's pretty much it. It's uncomfortable & a little embarrasing but not really painful.

Answer 6

They make you scoot down on the bed and place your feet in these stirrup-looking things. You'll be covered in a hospital sheet that opens up in the front.

The doctor will take this lever-looking thing (don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds), and she'll insert it inside of you. Then she'll squeeze the lever so that it "holds you open" so to speak. After she's done that, she'll take a Q-Tip and take a swab of your insides for biopsy (to see if there's any abnormalities).

Once the swabbing is done, the lever will come out, and her fingers will go in. She'll feel your ovaries and other female organs just to make sure everything's in tact. I know this sounds like she's going to be fisting you, but it's not that bad, I swear.

Oh yeah, and she'll also have you lay on your back while she checks your breasts for any lumps. As far as the blood goes, I've never had one for a pap smear. If anything, they'll probably do that finger-pricking thing, which is nothing at all.

Good luck girl!

Answer 7

The woes of woman hood. I am now 40 years old and have always dreaded having a pap smear done. You may feel violated and it could be painful for you especially if you have never had one before. I do not know if you are going alone or not, but since this is your first time you may want to bring a close friend with you or your mom, someone that has had it done before so if you need someone to talk to about it they will be there for you. Good Luck!

Answer 8

1. Don't worry, it's not nearly as bad as people make you beleive it is.
2. They prop you open with a device that allows them to take a look inside you. It's shaped ergonomically so there is minimal discomfort. The only discomfort comes from when they crank it open just a little. They swipe inside quickly, and you're done.
3. They should test for Aids if you ask. If for some reason they don't, you should still ask for the HPV shot!

Answer 9

firstly if yr feeling nervous, find a female dr. after many years of pap smears, i still find it easier with a woman.
you will be asked to remove your underwear in private then
they will ask u to move legs so they can get at you. they use this (often cold) metal thing (speculum i think?) thats like tongs, but tubular and open up like scizzors. this is inserted, opened and they scrape at yr cervix. doesnt really hurt, but can be awkward and embarrassing.
they can also feel around your stomach.
it can be embarassing. i just look at the ceiling and remember they do this all the time, and its their job and nothing new for them.
if it is a man, they usually have a female nurse or person in there with you, not looking. i think this is to ensure you feel safe.and maybe to protact them if someone said they did something unprofessional
they will only take blood for an AIDS test if u ask them to, and also if you've told them things that would make them think you are at risk.

Answer 10

You will spread your legs and place your feet into these brackets that are attached to the bed table you are laying on. Next they will insert what looks like two spoons that are attached. Once inserted the spoons are opened up inside of you, just a little and they will go in with a long stick thing and pinch off a tiny piece of I don't know, inner skin. If you are talking about what a nice day it is and that you are going to watch you bf play football, you won't even feel it. Good Luck.