Every woman knows that she should have regular Pap smears. Here’s what the Pap test really is — and why it is so important. During a Pap test, your healthcare provider collects cells from your cervix.

Back in May of this year, the FDA approved a new method of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in a healthcare setting. Rather than a standard Pap smear performed with a speculum -- a test dreaded by ...

HPV screening — rather than a pap smear — is more effective at detecting cervical cancer, according to a US task force Lordn/Getty Images The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is looking to update ...

Regular screenings play a vital role in helping women prevent cervical cancer, which used to be one of the most common causes of death for women in the United States. However, many women may wonder ...

Skipping your Pap? A major gyno-no. The rate of timely cervical screenings in the United States and abroad has declined in recent years — and that’s a red flag. Cervical cancer often shows no signs ...

A Pap smear or Pap test involves a doctor taking a small sample of cells from a person’s cervix using a brush or spatula-like instrument to look for changes in the cervix’s cells. Share on Pinterest ...

Patients may be able to now use a long swab to collect samples for HPV testing — skipping the sometimes painful pap smear Getty (2) A new self-administered test for HPV — the virus that causes most ...

There are certainly many good reasons to do a pelvic exam and Pap smear, but initiation of birth control, specifically oral contraceptives, is not one of them. There is nothing that will be discovered ...

It’s not uncommon to experience cramping or mild bleeding after a Pap smear. But heavy bleeding or severe cramping shouldn’t occur. A Pap smear is a screening procedure that can detect cervical cancer ...

Testing for high-risk human papillomaviruses every five years – even with a self-collected sample – is the “preferred screening strategy” for cervical cancer starting at age 30, according to a new ...