A Pap smear is a procedure that screens for cervical cancer by testing cells for any abnormalities. If your Pap results are abnormal that does not mean you have cancer, and more likely indicates HPV.

The pre-HPV vaccination burden of ambulatory care visits and procedures related to cervical cancer screening is assessed, with projected effects of HPV vaccination and testing. Pap tests were ordered ...

If a person receives a positive human papillomavirus (HPV) result from a Pap smear, they need a colposcopy to confirm the diagnosis. This is a minimally invasive procedure that healthcare ...

No one likes the sound of any medical test coming back as “abnormal,” and furthermore, no one likes the sound of human papillomavirus (HPV). When I heard those two words in the same sentence, I was, ...

Ah, the pap smear. A rite of passage that people with vaginas just can't escape — or, seemingly, stop complaining about. No, you might not want to do it every day (and luckily, no one needs you to!), ...

In 2026, Barbados will reach its 60th anniversary. For Barbadians, our biggest challenge is poor health, specifically non-communicable diseases like ...

Pap smears used to detect cervical cancer could become less common according to researchers who found testing for the virus which causes the disease could be just as effective for many women. The U.S.

Not sure how often you should be getting screened for cervical cancer? One group of clinicians now says that you only need an HPV screening once every five years rather than a Pap smear every three ...

New cervical cancer screening recommendations out Tuesday may have started to make old-fashioned Pap smears a thing of the past for women over 30. Most women may opt for the human papillomavirus test, ...

Dear Mayo Clinic: I am way past my childbearing years and do not have any health problems. Do I need to continue getting Pap smears? At what age is this test no longer necessary? A: Getting regularly ...

During a Pap smear the most uncomfortable part will be when the doctor inserts a speculum into your vagina. However, the pain should be minimal and brief. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images A Pap smear is a ...