An abnormal result from a pap test, also known as a pap smear, can be scary. Because the test looks for changes that indicate cervical cancer or precancerous conditions, many women worry that abnormalities indicate the presence of cancer. However,...
According to the National Institutes of Health, colonoscopy and papanicolaou smear are routine tests used to screen for cancer. A colonoscopy is mainly used to screen for colorectal cancer, while a papanicolaou test or Pap smear is used to screen...
The pap smear is a laboratory test that's used to analyze a sample of cervical cells to check for abnormalities. Several abnormal pap test causes can cause concern. If a repeat pap test shows the same abnormalities, other diagnostic testing may be...
The pap smear is a laboratory test that is performed on cervical cells to determine whether cellular changes are present. These changes can indicate a precancerous condition or the presence of cancer in the female reproductive tract....
Pap smears are often performed as part of a routine gynecological examination. This screening test allows gynecologists to detect abnormal cells that can be indicative of cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition....
The Pap test is a procedure that collects cells from the cervix and vagina for examination under a microscope. Its main use is as a screening test for cervical cancer, which is linked to human papilloma virus (HPV). The treatment of an abnormal...
The most common cause of an abnormal Pap smear is the presence of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, or HPV, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services. A Pap smear checks for abnormal changes in the cells...
Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has decreased over the past 40 years, primarily because of the prevalence of cervical cell testing, known as the...
A pap smear is a procedure that tests for the presence of cancerous cells in the cervix. The cervix is the narrow end of the uterus that sits on top of the vagina. A pap smear is performed by taking a sample of the cells in the cervix and...
Many women are nervous or concerned when told their Pap smear is abnormal. However, an abnormal Pap smear does not necessarily indicate cervical cancer. It is imperative that women understand the different classifications of an abnormal Pap smear...
A part of a woman's annual gynecological examination, a Pap smear takes a cell sample from the cervix. The University of Michigan University Health Center recommends regular Pap smears for women who are 21 and older or those who have been sexually...
Most women know to get regular pap smears, but many don't know what to make of the results when they come back abnormal. Getting back abnormal pap results can create a lot of anxiety around the fear of having cervical cancer. However, abnormal...
A pap smear is a medical test used to examine the skin cells of a woman's cervix-the opening into the uterus-for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer affects 11,000 women per year, according to the National Cancer Institute. The pap test is...
The Pap test, or Pap smear, is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test, to examine cells collected from the cervix in order to detect any abnormalities including cancer cells, precancerous cells and non-carcinogenic conditions. The National Cancer...
Pap smears are a common screening test that can be used to detect changes in the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer. One of the main causes of cervical cancer is an infection with the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV. As a result, many...
A Pap smear is routinely used to screen women for cervical cancer or abnormal cervical cells which may develop into cancer, called cervical dysplasia. A woman with an abnormal Pap smear usually undergoes additional testing, such as a cervical...
Women who have become sexually active or over the age of 21 should get an annual Pap smear. During this annual exam, medical professional uses a speculum, which they insert into the vagina, and then wipe the cervix with a sterile swab. This swab...
Pap smears are commonly done during gynecological exams. This test involves the gynecologist using a swab to get a sample of some of the cells which are on the surface of the cervix. These cells can then be examined to see if they are abnormal....
A Pap test, or Pap smear, is a test that checks for precancerous changes or cancer cells in the cervix. According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer is typically slow growing, so regular Pap tests can pick up any gradual cellular...
Abnormal Pap smears and yeast infections are two common findings during routine gynecologic exams, according to the Encyclopedia of Family Health. Although both are common, they can be a source of consternation for women. Even though the Pap smear...
Pap tests, done every three years as a preventative measure in women 21 years old or younger, depending on when they became sexually active, diagnose early cancers or cellular changes that might become cancerous. Cells scraped from the cervix's...
Pap smears can diagnose cervical cancer at a very early stage. Pap smears, which are simple, painless tests that examine cells scraped off the surface of the cervix, should be done every 3 years up until age 65 to 70. Most laboratories grade pap...
The Pap smear is a test used to distinguish normal cells from abnormal cells in the cervix. During a pelvic exam, a physician scrapes some cells from your cervix and smears them on a slide, and then sends it to a lab for analysis. Abnormalities...
Just as the female parts of a flower contain a stigma which receives pollen, human female reproductive parts have at their center a cervix, which is the bulbous opening to the uterus. Cervical tissue is delicate and made up of thin layers that...
A pap test or pap smear is a test that physicians use to look for changes in the cells of the cervix, the opening of the uterus that sits at the top of the vagina. During a pap test, a physician or nurse practitioner will collect sample cervical...
A Pap smear is a screening method used to identify cervical cancer in women. It is typically done every year during a woman's annual gynecological exam, but can be done more frequently in women who have previously had abnormal results. Having a...
The Pap test has been in use since the 1950s and is a highly successful screening exam for the prevention of cancer. A Pap test's primary purpose is the detection of premalignant cell changes involving the uterine cervix. According to the Agency...
Pap smears diagnose early changes in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, that may lead to cervical cancer, a disease that kills approximately 7,500 women each year, according to the Louisiana State University Health System. A painless,...
Pap smears are often performed as part of a normal gynecolgical exam to look for signs and risk factors for cervical cancer. With a Pap smear, a cotton swab is inserted into the vagina and brushed up against the cervix in order to get a sampling...
A pap smear is a gynecological test designed to detect premalignant and malignant processes in the cervix and uterus. Get tips and advice on preventing, diagnosing, and treating cervical and uterine cancer in this medical video.
