Two words cause trepidation among women everywhere: Pap smear. This procedure can be so intimidating that women put it off for years, risking their health because they dread those stirrups. Not only is this dangerous but it is unnecessary. Annual Pap smears certainly aren’t fun but they are not painful or scary. Here is what you can expect at your annual exam:
Regular health checkup. First, a nurse will take your weight and blood pressure. Sometimes a urine sample will also be required, to check for bacterial infections or test for pregnancy.
Undress from the waist down. After the nurse leaves, you will undress from the waist down and put on a smock or blanket. You will also be asked to remove your bra so the doctor can check for lumps in breast tissue.
Talk with the doctor. When the doctor comes in, he or she will spend some time talking to you about why you made the appointment and what concerns you might have. The doctor might ask you about a number of things, from stress at work to your sex life. It’s important to be honest with your doctor, especially about sexual activity and anything that may affect your reproductive health. Don’t be embarrassed or shy — the doctor really has heard it all and isn’t there to judge you.
Breast exam. Your doctor will then check your breasts for lumps or irregularities. He or she might also feel your abdominal area to check for anything out of the ordinary. The doctor might talk to you about how to perform a breast self-exam or ask you whether's there's a history of breast cancer in your family.
Cervical exam. This is the part of the visit women dread the most, but it usually lasts less than a minute. Your doctor will ask you to scoot down to the edge of the examination table and place your feet in the stirrups. He or she will then insert a speculum into your vagina to examine the walls of the vagina and to insert the cotton swab for the Pap smear. Try to stay relaxed — for some women deep breathing is helpful; others find it relaxing to chat while the doctor works. You might feel pressure briefly when the cotton swab touches the cervix.
The Pap smear is now complete! Your doctor will most likely ask you call back in one to two weeks to obtain your test results. If the swab was abnormal, it is not a reason to assume the worst. Abnormal Pap smears are not uncommon and can occur for a number of reasons, including a yeast infection, an STD, and inflammation. Your doctor will probably ask you to have a follow-up Pap smear in a few months — make sure you do so because an abnormal Pap can also indicate cancerous cells and thus should not be ignored.