A pap smear is essential for vaginal and cervical health. It’s the health exam most women dread, but avoiding this very important exam due to fear can have life altering consequences. It is important to understand those fears and learn how to face them.
What Is a Pap Smear?
A pap smear—also known as a pap test or even cervical cytology— is a routine medical exam that should be performed every three years starting at age 21.
During the exam you will lay on your back with your feet in stirrups. Your OBGYN will ask you to spread your knees apart and then gently insert a speculum into the vaginal canal and widen it to get a better view of the cervix. Using a special brush or spatula, they will collect cells from the surface of the cervix.The process can be uncomfortable and even painful for some, but lubrication has also shown to be helpful in reducing discomfort for patients.
The pap smear functions as a screening process for cervical cancer, sampling the tissue to check for any anomalous cells, including pre-cancerous ones that might later develop into a bigger concern. Paps can also detect Human Papillovirus (HPV). If any concerning findings come about, a colposcopy is usually recommended to determine treatment paths.
Before Your Appointment:
It is best to avoid using spermicides and vaginal medications of any kind two days before your pap test. Intercourse is also not advised in this timeframe. Any of these activities can wash away the cells that the cytology is looking for and may lead to false-negative results. It is also besto to reschedule your appointment if you are on your period.
Four Common Fears Around the Pap Smear
Because pap smears are performed in such an intimate part of our bodies, it’s normal to have concerns, anxieties and fears around them. In fact, negative perception and bad past experiences are some of the biggest reasons as to why women don’t get them.
At Lone Tree we do our best to provide a holistic service that establishes a dialogue between the patient’s needs and our medical professionals. Patients’ education and understanding matter to us.
1. Facing the Unknown in Your First Pap Smear
Heading to a medical exam for the first time can be daunting. Not to mention one that deals with an intimate area in such a direct way. Hearing from others who have gone through it, or learning about experiences online can be scary if they have had a bad experience or result. Misinformation or contradictory statements can make preparing for a pap smear even more confusing.
The body also reacts differently for everyone. Even doing your best to research and educate yourself, there is still a measure of uncertainty that you won’t resolve until you have the test. It’s like asking someone to describe the ocean if you have never seen it.
At the same time, because the recommended age to start getting pap smears is 20-21, many people might not have had any sort of penetration before this, which can add to the discomfort.
However, it is important to know that OB/GYN offices such as ours offer support in all areas, and you have the right to ask questions or stop the exam if you are uncomfortable. Communication with your doctor or nurse is key before, during and after your appointment.
2. Feeling Embarrassed or Vulnerable About Gynecological Health
Feeling shame or exposed during a pap smear can happen for many reasons and is fairly common. Religious beliefs might make most people wary of approaching medical professionals with vaginal care, and culturally, most people in the US will feel reservations with letting a stranger even look at their reproductive areas. Fear of judgment about the shape, smell or grooming is common.
However, it’s helpful to remember that gynecologists are highly educated and should be extremely professional in their practice. What may hold very personal and intense meaning for us as patients, is anatomy they must care for and medically analyze. Doctors should never make you feel judged for the natural way your body looks.
You should also feel free to ask for any accommodations within the office that might help you feel comfortable, and your care provider should do their best to help you get through the process.
3. Is the Pap Smear Painful?
In short, no. A normal pap smear should not cause pain for the patient, only discomfort. If you experience vaginal/cervical pain or abdominal cramps during or after the test, please let the professional performing your exams know, as it can be a matter for concern, and point towards underlying health concerns that should be addressed.
4. Fear of Abnormal Cytology Results
Because the pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer, many people fear getting positive cancerous cell results. The consequences of discovering them can be life-changing and no one wishes to face a very scary illness after a routinary test.
However, getting the pap test will help you in case of any abnormalities. The earlier cervical cancer is detected, the easier and more effectively you can get treatment for it. However invasive or daunting it may seem, getting your yearly examination can be life-saving.
Our office has experienced and empathetic medical providers who can guide with experience and knowledge in case you get a positive result. We understand the anxiety that a potential diagnosis can give you, and we build the best environment possible to be by your side no matter what concerns may arise.
About Lone Tree’s Mission
Lone Tree OB/GYN & Midwives is a full-service obstetrics and gynecology office with a team of highly regarded providers recognized throughout the Castle Rock, Colorado, community for their exceptional care.