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 Pap smearHow the Test is Performed:You will be asked to lie on your back with your feet in the stirrups. A pelvic examination will be done, and a speculum (an instrument used to dilate the body passage in order to examine the interior) will be inserted into your vagina and opened slightly. A small cotton tipped applicator is inserted and rubbed against the cervix to take a sample. The sample is then spread on a slide, sprayed with a fixative, and sent to the lab. How to Prepare: The health care provider should be notified of a prior abnormal Pap smear, if you might be pregnant , and you are taking any medications or birth control pills. You should avoid douching, using tampons, having intercourse, and tub bathing 24-hours before the test. Empty your bladder just before the test. How it Feels: There may be some discomfort and a feeling of pressure during the procedure. A small amount of bleeding may occur after the test. Risks: There are no risks involved. Why this Test is Performed: The Pap smear can detect cancerous or precancerous conditions of the cervix . Normal Values: The test is negative, meaning there are no abnormal cells present. Abnormal Results: Results are reported in 2 ways. The traditional classifications are reported as: Class I: Normal pattern, no atypical or abnormal cells. Class II: Benign (harmless) abnormality, atypical (not normal) but nonmalignant cells present. Class III: Atypical cells consistent with dysplasia (abnormal tissue development). Class IV: Suggestive of, but inconclusive for malignancy . Class V: Conclusive for malignancy (cancerous). A more recent system of reporting divides the results into 3 main areas: Benign or noncancerous, precancerous or showing some abnormal cell changes, and malignant or possibly cancerous. Cost: The estimated cost is $25. Special Considerations: The following drugs may affect the Pap smears:
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