What does a Pap smear involve?
Plan to have your test done at a time when you are not having your menstrual period. Do not douche or have sex for 24 hours before the test. A sample of cells from the outside and the canal of the cervix are taken by gently scraping the outside of the cervix with a wooden or plastic spatula and then inserting a small brush that looks like a pipe cleaner into the canal. The cells are then placed on a glass slide and sprayed with a fixative or put into a bottle and then sent to a laboratory for testing. There may be some discomfort similar to menstrual cramps and a feeling of pressure while the test is being done. A small amount of bleeding may occur after the test.
