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.

The term ASCUS indicates minor cellular change detected on Papanicolaou (Pap) test results. Since most abnormal changes that occur to the cervix are the result of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, ...

Cervical cancer screening is one of the best success stories in health care. Since the 1970s, the death rate from cervical cancer has dropped by more than half. "The goal of the screening is to detect ...

An abnormal Pap smear means some percentage of your cervix cells appear abnormal in shape or size. In most cases, an abnormal Pap smear does not indicate cancer and is in fact caused by HPV. If you ...

The phone rings. It’s your OB-GYN’s office. As if going to an annual appointment that brings apprehension and anxiety to even the most mindful health enthusiasts wasn’t enough, now your test has been ...

If you get a call from your doctor’s office about an abnormal pap smear, you might start to freak out. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says it’s a good idea to take a deep breath first. Many times, the doctor ...

It is possible to have an abnormal smear but a normal colposcopy result. This can happen when someone has a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection but no precancerous mutations in the cervix. Cervical ...

J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2014;18(1):1-7. In a clinical setting, this combination of maintained sensitivity with increased specificity would lead to fewer office visits and procedures. Our cost analysis ...

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 ...

A new computerised screening test for cervical cancer detects more abnormalities than the traditional smear test, according to a study published on bmj.com today. It could also lead to fewer women ...

KUTV — If you’re over age 21 and have had a well-woman exam, you’ve probably had a pap smear. It’s a quick test, and can be briefly uncomfortable, but what does it check for and how often should you ...

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 ...