What to Know Before a Smear Test
A pap smear can be done at clinics, internal medicine physicians, gynaecologists, or family practice physicians. If you are menstruating, the timing of the procedure can be important. Tissues and blood during your period may affect the test results. Therefore, it is better to schedule your appointment for 1 or 2 weeks after the expected period or 5 days after the period ends. Some other factors that may interfere with the precision of the pap smear. These include sexual intercourse, vaginal lubricants, spermicides, vaginal douches, and tampons. [4]
During a Pap Smear
A pap smear is done quite similar to a pelvic exam. Your doctor will ask you to lie on a table and place both feet in stirrups. After that, your vagina will be opened with the help of a speculum so that the doctor can see inside the cervix. He or she may remove several cells from this area with a swab. These cells are put on a glass slide for further testing in the lab. In general, this process tends to be painless, but a little bit uncomfortable. It takes only several minutes to complete a pap smear. [5]
