Pap Smear & Cervical Cancer Screening
A Pap smear (also called a Pap test) screens for cervical cancer. The test checks for abnormal cells in the cervix that are cancerous or have the potential to become cancerous. During a Pap smear, your healthcare provider takes cells from your cervix to examine under a microscope for signs of cancer. A Pap smear may also detect certain infections and inflammation. The test is named for an American physician, Dr. George Papanicolaou, who developed the Pap smear.
What can a Pap smear detect?
Healthcare providers perform Pap smears as part of a pelvic exam. The test checks for:
- Cervical cancer.
- Potentially precancerous cells in the cervix (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia).
- Human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that increases the risk of cervical cancer.