The Pap smear is a part of a gynecologic exam. Getting a Pap smear is a quick and painless process. It involves the doctor gently scraping some cells from the cervix and vagina. These are placed on a glass slide and sent to a laboratory where they are examined under a microscope.
The Pap smear was originally developed to screen women for cervical cancer. Today it is most useful in detecting pre-cancerous changes. They can be treated and this can eliminate the possibility of cancer developing.
The Pap smear can also reveal other information. It can show the presence of infections like herpes simplex (HSV) and the human papilloma virus (HPV) which causes gential warts. Vaginal infections like yeast, trichomonas and bacteria can also be seen. It even gives some information about the hormone status of the woman.
Most women should get a Pap smear once a year. Pap smears should be done more frequently in certain cases:
If you get regular Pap smears, you almost completely eliminate your chance of getting cervical cancer. You might get other information which is important for your health.