January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to remind ourselves that routine screenings are a critical part of our wellness routines. Cervical cancer is among the most preventable ...

The internet is debating whether the discomfort associated with the exam outweighs the benefits. Here's what doctors want you ...

An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link A pap smear, sometimes called a pap test, is a procedure that screens for cervical cancer — and is typically done during an annual well-woman ...

An abnormal Pap smear means some percentage of your cervix cells appear abnormal in shape or size. In most cases, an abnormal Pap smear does not indicate cancer and is in fact caused by HPV. If you ...

If you can’t remember when you had your last pap smear, there’s a chance you might be due for another. So how often should you get a pap smear, exactly? We asked Dr. Margo Harrison, MD, OBGYN and Head ...

Doctors can find it hard to diagnose cervical cancer in young women because the same symptoms, such as bleeding between periods or after sex, are common in women with genital infections or taking ...

During the routine procedure, cells from your cervix are gently scraped away and examined for abnormal growth. The procedure is done at your doctor’s office. It may be mildly uncomfortable, but ...

Editor's note: anyone with a cervix can get a Pap smear, but for this article, we included sources who generally referred to these people as women. Going to the doctor for any type of exam can feel ...

Back in May of this year, the FDA approved a new method of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in a healthcare setting. Rather than a standard Pap smear performed with a speculum -- a test dreaded by ...

PAP smears fall under the category of preventive health services. They help healthcare professionals screen people for potential cervical cancer and other health issues. Coverage may vary based on a ...

A Pap smear is a type of test used to screen for cell changes that have the potential to lead to cervical cancer in women. Pap Smear. Image Credit: Iryna Inshyna/Shutterstock.com Its name originates ...