A Pap smear is a test doctors use to check if a person has any precancerous or cancerous cells in their cervix. While a Pap smear may involve a pelvic exam, it is not a test for chlamydia. A Pap smear ...

Maybe you had a bad experience with your last Pap smear and you’re wary of going back to the ob-gyn. Or maybe you’ve never had one before and are scared to make the appointment. It’s understandable to ...

People should avoid having sex for 2 days before a Pap smear, as sex can cause a discharge that may affect the result. People should also avoid douching, applying any contraception or medication ...

The pap smear (or pap test) is one of the cornerstones of women's health. It was introduced in the 1940's as a way to screen for abnormal cervical cells. Starting at the age of 21 women are ...

HPV screening — rather than a pap smear — is more effective at detecting cervical cancer, according to a US task force Lordn/Getty Images The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is looking to update ...

Pap smears are dreaded, uncomfortable chores at the OB-GYN's office. They're also life-saving procedures. A new, tampon-shaped do-it-yourself test from Teal Health aims to make the most important part ...

Back in May of this year, the FDA approved a new method of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in a healthcare setting. Rather than a standard Pap smear performed with a speculum -- a test dreaded by ...

You may have heard about HPV testing and self-swabbing to collect the sample. Does that work as well? Here are the ins and ...

Let's be honest: Pap smears are terrible. Every year, I stare at the ceiling and try my hardest to ignore the scraping of my insides. In the age of AI chatbots and self-driving cars, how has no one ...

Doctor talking with patient at desk in medical office via Getty. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is looking to update its recommendations for screening for cervical cancer. The task force has ...