Graphic by Sunny Wei ‘23.
By Lily Benn ’24
Staff Writer
A pap test, or pap smear, are common names for a Papanicolaou test, which identifies potential cervical cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Planned Parenthood recommends that people with cervixes start getting tested once they are 21. Planned Parenthood also explains that if you are aged 21-24, you can start to get routine pap tests every three years, or wait until you are 25 to begin getting tested, after which it is recommended to get tested every five years.
Pap tests are medical tests often done during a regular physical, pelvic exam or wellness exam, according to Planned Parenthood. These tests are highly recommended by medical providers for people with cervixes as they are designed to find signs of abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer, or cervical cancer itself.
According to Planned Parenthood, during this test, which only takes a few minutes, a doctor inserts a speculum into the patient’s vagina to open up the vaginal walls so that a sample can be taken from the cervix. After this, a small testing device such as a spatula or brush is inserted into the vagina to lightly scratch the cervix to collect cervical cells.
Pap tests can also test for Human Papillomavirus or HPV. According to Planned Parenthood, HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection. Many types of HPV are relatively harmless. Still, some variants such as type 16 and type 18 can lead to cervical cancer, or in some cases can also cause cancer in the penis, vulva, vagina, anus, mouth or throat, Planned Parenthood explains. There is no absolute cure, but if HPV is detected before it becomes cancer, such as with a pap test, it can be easily treated and cancer can be prevented. Another common prevention is the HPV vaccine, which is generally recommended to be received at age 11 or 12, but can be given at ages 9 to 45.
Pap smears are available at the Health Center, generally as part of a gynecological exam. They are free of charge with a student health insurance plan and the supplemental or prepaid health center option. If you do not have this plan, the charges will be placed on your student bill, according to Health Services.
“Pap smears are available at the Health Center, generally as part of a gynecological exam. They are free of charge with a student health insurance plan and the supplemental or prepaid health center option.”