During the routine procedure, cells from your cervix are gently scraped away and examined for abnormal growth. The procedure is done at your doctor’s office. It may be mildly uncomfortable, but ...

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 ...

A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a screening procedure that can detect cervical cancer. During a Pap smear, a doctor or practitioner collects cells from the cervix. The cervix is the opening to ...

A normal colposcopy result means a person has no cervical cancer cells, including precancerous ones. Abnormal results may indicate a person has cancerous or precancerous cells in their cervix.

If a person receives a positive human papillomavirus (HPV) result from a Pap smear, they need a colposcopy to confirm the diagnosis. This is a minimally invasive procedure that healthcare ...