The Pap smear, or a Pap test, is a way of screening for cervical cancer and it should really be part of your primary healthcare annual visit within three years of starting sexual activity. The test itself can be quite intimidating and that is, obviously, a very personal part of your body, so it’s important to understand what’s involved if you haven’t had it done to you before

The Pap smear, or a Pap test, is a way of screening for cervical cancer and it should really be part of your primary healthcare annual visit within three years of starting sexual activity. The test itself can be quite intimidating and that is, obviously, a very personal part of your body, so it’s important to understand what’s involved if you haven’t had it done to you before.

Because it is such an intimate examination, you should talk to your healthcare provider about it before your first one just so you know what’s involved. Also, it’s certainly reasonable to have somebody else in the room with you if you feel more comfortable having a chaperone or a family member with you just to make you more comfortable. Ideally, you want to have this test done when you’re not menstruating so that there’s less blood to interfere with the test itself.

The Pap smear itself involves the use of a device called a speculum, which is either a single-use, plastic, disposable one such as this, or a metal one that is used, and then, sterilized after use. Okay, so, the speculum is a device used by the primary healthcare provider to see the cervix, and we do that by inserting it into the vagina, and then, opening it up, and spreading the walls of the vagina so we can get a clearer view of the cervix, which is, of course, the bottom of the uterus or womb.

And then, we use a brush or a spatula just to take a sampling, which is painless itself, of the cells that line the cervix. And then, those cells are smeared – thus the name Pap smear, smeared – on a slide, which is then looked at by a specialist to see if there’s abnormal or precancerous cells present. Often seeing a local family physician or a physiotherapist in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition. Smart Food Now and exercise is also optominal for overall health.   

Just remember that treatment for your condition will vary with the individual and the condition they may have, so always consult your primary healthcare provider or local family physician for more information. Presenter: Dr. Duncan Miller, Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC

Now Health Network Local Practitioners: Family Doctor