Pap smears and HPV tests can catch issues early—long before they become cancer. Learn why these simple screenings matter and how to make the experience more comfortable.

Know why Pap smear testing is vital for women’s health, how it detects cervical cancer early, and when every woman should ...

If you’ve been getting your annual well visits at the gyno (as you should be), you’re likely well familiar with Pap smears, which look for abnormal changes on your cervix and can indicate a human ...

During a Pap smear the most uncomfortable part will be when the doctor inserts a speculum into your vagina. However, the pain should be minimal and brief. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images A Pap smear is a ...

Early cancer detection greatly improves treatment outcomes, yet many people skip routine screenings. Doctors say simple tests ...

If you can’t remember when you had your last pap smear, there’s a chance you might be due for another. So how often should you get a pap smear, exactly? We asked Dr. Margo Harrison, MD, OBGYN and Head ...

Medically reviewed by Khadeja Haye, MD Key Takeaways You can still get a Pap smear while on your period, but heavy bleeding might affect test accuracy.Light bleeding or spotting usually won't affect ...

Many of us would choose the pain of a dentist’s chair over the most compassionate and sensitive gynecologist’s examination table. You endure a cold speculum — which is torture enough — then it does ...

Dr. Marie Savard explains the differences between a Pap smear and a DNA test. April 7, 2009— -- A DNA test that detects the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer, is more effective ...

A Pap smear involves a medical provider inserting a speculum into the vagina, then swabbing the cervix before sending the sample to a lab. Credit - Getty Images Maybe you had a bad experience with ...