How long does a Pap smear take?

Pap Smear Procedure

The test is done in your doctor's office or clinic. It takes about 10 to 20 minutes. You'll lie on a table with your feet placed firmly in stirrups. You'll spread your legs, and your doctor will insert a metal or plastic tool (speculum) into your vagina.

How long does it take to heal after a Pap smear?

If bleeding after a Pap smear is from normal causes, such as a cervical scratch, the bleeding should stop within a few hours. Spotting may last up to two days, but the bleeding will become lighter. Avoid sex and don't use a tampon in the two to three days following a Pap smear if you're experiencing bleeding.

How painful is a Pap smear?

Pap smears shouldn't hurt. If you're getting your first Pap, it may feel a little uncomfortable because it's a new sensation that your body isn't yet used to. People often say it feels like a small pinch, but everyone has a different threshold for pain.

What should I wear to a Pap smear?

Because you will need to remove all clothing from the waist down for a Pap smear, you might consider wearing a dress or skirt so that all you have to take off is your underwear and shoes, but this is purely a personal preference. It may be just as easy for you to slip out of a pair of jeans, slacks, or sweatpants.

Do Pap smear results come back immediately?

Pap smear test results typically take four to five days to come back from the lab. In most cases, Pap results are normal. If so, you can expect to have another test in about three years. If your results are abnormal, you will receive a call from our team to set an appointment to confer with Dr.

Pap and HPV Testing | Nucleus Health

What should you not do before a Pap smear?

Avoid intercourse, douching, or using any vaginal medicines or spermicidal foams, creams or jellies for two days before having a Pap smear, as these may wash away or obscure abnormal cells. Try not to schedule a Pap smear during your menstrual period. It's best to avoid this time of your cycle, if possible.

Can Pap smear detect STD?

A Pap smear can't detect STDs. To test for diseases like chlamydia or gonorrhea, your healthcare provider takes a swab from your cervix. Blood tests can also identify certain STDs.

How can I relax during a Pap smear?

Is a Pap smear awkward?

“While each person may differ in their level of discomfort with speculum exams, many patients describe Pap smears as mildly uncomfortable or crampy,” says Dr. Teng. Once the speculum is inserted, your doctor uses the tiny brush to “scrape” off cells from the cervix (and some people barely feel this part).

At what age should a woman get her first Pap smear?

According to ACOG guidelines, PAP smears should begin at age 21, regardless of when a girl becomes sexually active.

Can you bleed after Pap smear?

Many people who have a Pap smear notice light bleeding, or spotting, for a couple of days after the test. In most cases, this is not a cause for concern, and it usually goes away without intervention. This symptom may occur because the Pap smear can irritate the blood vessels of the cervix, which causes light bleeding.

What should I expect at my first Pap smear?

The provider will gently insert a tool called a speculum into your vagina. It looks similar to a duck bill and is used to spread the vagina slightly so the provider can collect a sample of cells from your cervix with a small soft brush. The Pap test usually lasts only a few minutes. You can expect mild sensations.

Why does the speculum hurt so much?

Sometimes a pap test is excruciatingly painful not because the speculum is the wrong size, but because your vaginal issue is thin and dry or the muscles that surround the vagina are tense and painful.

Why was my smear test so painful?

There are many reasons why a smear test may be painful, including: Vaginismus, which is when the vagina suddenly tightens as you try to put something into it. Endometriosis. Cervical ectropion (cervical erosion)

Is it normal to get wet during a pelvic exam?

There is nothing wrong with you. Your body's natural response of lubrication in this particular case has nothing to do with whether you are aroused by your doctor or the examination itself. Also, some women lubricate more than others and that is normal too.

Does the speculum hurt?

The speculum exam — Your doctor will gently slide a speculum into your vagina. The speculum is made of metal or plastic. It separates the walls of your vagina when it opens. This may feel uncomfortable or weird, but it shouldn't hurt.

Will a Pap smear hurt if I'm a virgin?

Will it hurt? The pelvic examination will not hurt. Many women describe the experience as a sensation of crowding or fullness in the vagina; however, there should be no pain. Sometimes a woman will feel discomfort, especially if she is tense.

How far does the speculum go?

Speculae up to 4 cm wide and 12–16 cm long are appropriate when redundant vaginal walls prolapse between the bills and obscure the view of the cervix; this occurs most commonly in obese and multiparous women.

Should I be scared of a Pap smear?

A pap smear can be mildly uncomfortable for some women and there may be some spotting afterwards. For the vast majority of women it is about as conversation-worthy as a sneeze that just won't come and is never spoken about.

Can a Pap smear pick up a yeast infection?

Any Pap test can detect if you have a yeast infection or trichomoniasis, a common STD caused by a microscopic parasite. It can also diagnose inflammation, which can be triggered by anything that irritates your cervix -- an allergic reaction to spermicide or an IUD.

What can they find out from a Pap smear?

The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately. The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause these cell changes.

What kind of infections show up on a Pap smear?

The STIs that can be diagnosed by Pap smear are trichomoniasis, HPV infection, herpes genitalis, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis.

Should I shower before a Pap smear?

Do not use douche, bubble bath, or use vaginal medicine for three days before Pap test. You may shower, but do not tub bathe 24 hours before the Pap test. Inform your clinician about additional medications/conditions that may interfere with an accurate test.

How many fingers does a gynecologist use?

The doctor or nurse will put lubricant on two fingers (still wearing the gloves) and slide them inside your vagina. Using the other hand, he or she will press on the outside of your lower abdomen (the area between your vagina and your stomach). You may feel a little pressure or discomfort.

Can I masturbate before a pelvic exam?

If people masturbate before a Pap smear, they should avoid penetrative masturbation. This may include inserting the fingers or a sex toy into the vagina. Penetration may lead to tissue inflammation in the vagina, which can interfere with the Pap smear.