A pap smear is a test of cells from your cervix to screen for cervical cancer. A healthy, normal cervix has squamous cells on its surface and glandular cells at its opening. Abnormal cell types found in a pap smear include atypical squamous cells,...
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,...
A Pap smear test is used to screen women for cervical cancer; it looks at cells on the surface of the cervix. It is normally performed as part of a routine gynecological exam. The cervix is at the back of the vagina and connects the vagina and the...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Pap smears are generally done as part of a routine gynecological exam. With this test some of the cells on the surface of the cervix are removed using a swab and later examined using a microscope. This test looks for abnormal cells which could...
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 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...
A gynecological exam alone is not enough to detect cervical cancer or precancerous cells. The cervix, which is the lower, narrower end of the uterus, is where your doctor collects cells for a Pap smear. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of...
Women undergo a Pap test, also referred to as a Pap smear, to check for cancer and other abnormalities in the cervix. Infections and inflammation also can be detected in the lower portion of the uterus through a Pap test. According to the National...
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...
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...
Pap tests, sometimes referred to as pap smears, are a method used to sample cells found in the cervix for growth irregularities and presence of disease. Medical authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic, recommend...
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,...
A cervical smear, also called a Pap smear or a Pap test, is a diagnostic test routinely performed by doctors to check the health of the cervix. To perform this test, a doctor uses a uses a wooden scraper to remove a small sample of cells from the...
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....
What is a Pap Smear (or a Papanicolauo's Test)? Pap smears, also called cervical smears, are very important for women who start having sex in their early teens. This may be because the young cervix is more vulnerable to cancerous changes when...
