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Pap Test

Schedule your test for a time when you will not be having your period. If you’re menstruating at the time of your appointment, call your healthcare provider to ask if you should reschedule.

For 48 hours before the test:

Do not douche.
Do not use vaginal medications, creams, or spermicides.

For 24 hours before the test:

Do not have sexual intercourse.

How the Test Is Done

You lie on an exam table with your feet in stirrups (foot rests). This is the usual position for a pelvic exam (an exam of the reproductive organs).
Your healthcare provider uses a speculum (a metal or plastic instrument) to gently open the vagina.
Cells are taken from the cervix with a small spatula. A small brush is then used to remove cells from inside the cervical canal. You may feel pressure or slight discomfort.

Speculum in vagina

Preserving the Sample

There are two ways to preserve the sample after it is taken:

Traditional preservation. With this method, the sample is smeared directly onto a glass microscope slide. The sample is then sent to a lab to be analyzed.
Liquid-based preservation. The sample is placed in a special preservative solution. At the lab, cervical cells are separated from blood and mucous cells and spread onto a slide. Screening for HPV can also be done using the same sample.

Traditional and liquid based preservation

After the Test

You’re free to go! There is a slight chance of light bleeding or spotting. Your healthcare provider will tell you when to expect your test results.

Getting Your Results

You’ll receive your results by mail or phone.

Normal result. The cells in the sample appear healthy. Have your next Pap test as recommended by ACS guidelines or your healthcare provider.
Abnormal result. The lab saw something unusual in your sample. Talk with your healthcare provider about what the results mean. You may need to repeat the Pap test or have other tests to evaluate the problem.