What tools are used in a Pap smear?

What tools are used in a Pap smear?

For the Pap smear, your provider will use a plastic or metal instrument called a speculum to open the vagina, so the cervix can be seen. Your provider will then use a soft brush or plastic spatula to collect cells from the cervix.

What do they stick in you during a Pap smear?

They insert a tool called a speculum into the vagina so that they can examine the cervix. Then, they take a sample of cervical cells using a brush or spatula and send them for testing.

Does a Pap smear tool hurt?

You may feel some pressure or mild discomfort when the speculum is put in and opened. Usually a small spatula or tiny brush is used to gently collect cells from the cervix for the Pap test. You may feel a light scratching when they take the cells, or you may feel nothing at all.

How is a Pap smear analyzed?

What does the test measure? A Pap smear involves obtaining a sample of cells from the opening of the cervix and examining them under a microscope for signs of abnormalities. Pap smear results indicate whether cervical cells appear normal, abnormal, or if the test result is unclear.

Do Pap smears make you bleed?

Although light bleeding or spotting is common after the screening, sometimes, concerning symptoms may present after the pap smear test. This includes heavy bleeding and cramping after a pap smear, bleeding after a pap smear for a week, and more.

How long do you bleed after Pap smear?

If bleeding after a Pap smear is from normal causes, such as a cervical scratch, the bleeding should stop within a few hours. Spotting may last up to two days, but the bleeding will become lighter. Avoid sex and don’t use a tampon in the two to three days following a Pap smear if you’re experiencing bleeding.

Can a Pap smear detect STD?

No. Pap tests, also known as Pap smears, look for any cell changes in your cervix, which could lead to cervical cancer. Cell changes are often caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which is an STD. But Pap tests only test for the cell changes, not whether or not you have HPV.

What is the validity of a Pap smear?

Accuracy of the Pap Test Such studies have rarely been done for any screening test for cervical cancer. Studies that compare the Pap test with repeat Pap testing have found that the sensitivity of any abnormality on a single test for detecting high-grade lesions is 55% to 80%.

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