A Pap smear appointment takes about 10 to 20 minutes, and the test itself only takes a few minutes.
Time
A Pap smear appointment takes 10 to 20 minutes. The actual collection takes 1 to 2 minutes.
Procedure
- You lie on an exam table with your feet in stirrups.
- A speculum opens the vagina.
- A brush collects cells from the cervix.
- The sample goes to a lab.
Pain
Mild pressure or discomfort, not usually painful.
Preparation
Avoid sex, douching and vaginal products for 24 to 48 hours. Schedule when not on your period.
Screening schedule
USPSTF: ages 21 to 29 every 3 years; 30 to 65 every 3 years (Pap), every 5 years (HPV test), or co-testing every 5 years.
Results
Come in 1 to 3 weeks.
Time
A Pap smear takes about 5 to 10 minutes of examination time, and the sample collection itself takes less than a minute. A full appointment, including the conversation and the pelvic exam if done, lasts around 15 to 30 minutes.
Procedure
- You lie on an exam table with feet in stirrups.
- The clinician inserts a speculum into the vagina to open it gently and view the cervix.
- A small brush or spatula collects cells from the cervix.
- The cells are placed in liquid or on a slide and sent to a lab. Many labs test for human papillomavirus (HPV) at the same time (co-testing).
- The speculum is removed.
Pain
Most women feel pressure or mild discomfort, and some cramping. It should not be very painful. Relaxing the pelvic muscles, breathing slowly and asking for a smaller speculum can help. Tell the clinician if you are uncomfortable, and they can pause at any time. Women after menopause, breastfeeding or with certain conditions may have dryness; lubricant can help.
Preparation
- Schedule the test when you are not on your period, ideally 10 to 20 days after the first day of the last period.
- Avoid sex, douching, vaginal creams or medicines for 24 to 48 hours before the test.
- Empty your bladder first.
Screening schedule
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends:
- Ages 21 to 29: Pap test every 3 years.
- Ages 30 to 65: Pap test every 3 years, HPV test every 5 years, or both together every 5 years.
- Over 65: may stop if previous screening was normal.
- After a hysterectomy that removed the cervix for non-cancer reasons: no screening.
Results
Results come back in 1 to 3 weeks. A normal result means no abnormal cells. An abnormal result does not mean cancer. Most are caused by HPV and mild changes that clear on their own. Follow-up may include repeat testing or colposcopy. Screening has reduced cervical cancer deaths by more than 50% in the US since the 1970s. HPV vaccination helps prevent cervical cancer.
Screening guidelines and results
A Pap test (Pap smear) collects cervical cells to check for precancerous changes, and the speculum exam and sample collection take about 5 to 10 minutes, while the full appointment lasts 15 to 30 minutes. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends cervical cancer screening for ages 21 to 65: a Pap test every 3 years for ages 21 to 29, and for ages 30 to 65, a Pap every 3 years, HPV testing every 5 years, or both together every 5 years. Screening has reduced cervical cancer deaths by more than 50 percent since the 1970s. Avoid sex, douching, vaginal creams and tampons for 48 hours before, and try to schedule when not menstruating. Cramping is brief, and light spotting after is normal. Results usually return in 1 to 3 weeks, and an abnormal result does not mean cancer, since it commonly leads to repeat testing or a colposcopy.
Based on data from the USPSTF and the American Cancer Society
