An abnormal Pap smear does not necessarily mean you have cancer. If you have HPV, it also does not mean you have cancer or will definitely develop it. HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer ...

Medically reviewed by Khadeja Haye, MD You can get a Pap smear while on your period, especially if you're only spotting or ...

More than half of women surveyed mistakenly believed that Pap smears test for cancer. In reality, the primary goal of the test is to detect abnormal cell changes in the cervix — changes that ...

Your provider may recommend that you have a pap smear more frequently or less frequently if you: had an abnormal pap smear result in the past, had a hysterectomy, or have a weakened immune system due ...

Omni Family Health Omni Family Health is raising awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of early detection ...

Figure 1 shows the distribution of estimated Pap smear screening intervals among women who have been screened at least once, have not had a hysterectomy, and have never had an abnormal Pap smear.

A year later, her Pap smear returned with abnormal results. At first, doctors thought she had cervical dysplasia, or pre-cancerous cell changes. Often, these cells can be removed and stopped from ...

Prevent cervical cancer with screenings, HPV vaccine, and healthy habits. Early detection saves lives. Empower yourself for a ...

A Papanicolaou test, also known as a Pap smear or Pap test, checks for abnormal cervical cells which could lead to cancer if left untreated, but they don't test for HPV itself. An HPV test, however, ...

In fact, the primary purpose of a Pap smear is to detect abnormal cell changes in the cervix — changes that, if caught early, can be treated before cancer develops. These abnormal cells are often ...