What Is a Pap Smear?
A Pap smear or pap test is a screening test for cervical cancer in women. A Pap smear involves collecting cells from the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus, to check for precancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix. It does not screen for any other gynecologic cancer like ovarian cancer. This is a routine test done in the doctor’s office, and it is generally painless, but some people may experience mild discomfort. Because the pap smear is used for checking the cells of the cervix and is sensitive to any inflammation or abnormalities, the doctors recommend not having sex before a Pap smear. This can reduce the risk of an abnormal result due to discharge or inflammation of the vagina related to sexual activity.
Why Is a Pap Test Performed?
The doctors perform Pap smears as part of a pelvic examination.
The test is used to check for the following:
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease that increases the risk of cervical cancer.
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Potentially precancerous cells in the cervix.
Is It Advisable to Have Sex Before a Pap Smear?
Sex right before a Pap smear is strictly not advisable. Because sex can sometimes irritate and inflame the skin of the cervix and vaginal tissue, which can cause discharge that can give an abnormal test result or mask the findings. It is recommended to inform the doctor if the person undergoing a pap test has had sex before the test. The doctors may still proceed with a pap smear, and that information may be considered in the following steps if there is an abnormal result. And if all other pap tests have been standard and there is no concern about the cervix, then the doctor may not reschedule the test. And if there are concerns for some reason, the doctor might want to do a follow-up Pap smear and reschedule the appointment when the patient has not had sex before the exam.
Is It Advisable To Have Protected Sex Before the Pap Smear?
Using birth control foams, jellies, or creams, including spermicide, before a Pap test is not recommended. These are not recommended because they can hide any atypical cells present, or the pH of the cells can be altered. Using barrier protection like condoms is also not recommended before a Pap smear because it can also impact the results of a Pap smear by causing inflammation and irritation of the vaginal tissue, thus resulting in abnormal results. Some condoms may also be coated with spermicide. So, to get more accurate results, the person undergoing a pap test should avoid having sex for two days or at least 24 hours before a Pap smear, no matter what type of protection they use.
How Long Is Sex Not Adviseable Before a Pap Smear?
A person undergoing a pap smear should avoid sex for at least 24 to 48 hours before a Pap smear. This is because sex may interfere with the test and its results. The vaginal tissue becomes inflamed after sexual intercourse, and it will take at least 24 hours for any inflammation to resolve and, if any, discharge to be expelled.
Is It Advisable to Do Masturbation Before a Pap Smear?
A person planning to do a pap test should avoid masturbating before a Pap smear, mainly to prevent penetrative masturbation, which may include inserting a sex toy into the vagina or the fingers. Penetrative masturbation can cause inflammation of the tissues in the vagina, which can interfere with the pap smear results.
How Should We Prepare for a Pap Smear?
Most women do not need to do anything to prepare for a Pap smear. Before the appointment, let the doctor know about any supplements and medications the patient takes. If the patient is pregnant or thinks they might be pregnant, inform the doctor. Women should not have sex before a pap smear.
Additionally, they should not use the following for two to three days before the appointment:
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Douching.
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Applying creams and medication to the vagina.
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Using spermicidal foams or jellies.
If women are in menstruation on the day of the Pap smear, inform the doctor’s office. Due to improvements in medical technology, a pap smear is possible during menstruation if there is no significant amount of blood. But it is optimum to ask for advice about whether it is possible during menstruation with the doctor. They might reschedule if they are concerned that the results could be less accurate.
What Is the Procedure for a Pap Smear?
Pap smears might not be painful, but they can be uncomfortable, and the test is rapid.
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During the procedure, the patient is asked to lie on their back on an examination table with their legs spread and their feet resting on supports called stirrups.
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The doctor will gradually insert a device called a speculum into the vagina. This device helps to keep the vaginal walls open and provides better access to the cervix. Inserting the speculum might cause a sensation of pressure in the pelvic area.
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Then the doctor will scrape a small sample of cells from the cervix with a small soft brush or a flat scraping device called a spatula or cytobrush, a combination of spatula and brush.
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The sample of cells collected from the cervix will be preserved and sent to a laboratory to be tested for the presence of abnormal cells.
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After the test, there might be some cramping or mild discomfort from the scraping.
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Sometimes there may be very light vaginal bleeding immediately after the test. Consult the doctor if bleeding or discomfort continues after the day of the test.
Conclusion:
A pap smear is a diagnostic test for cervical cancer in women. During the pap test, samples from the cervix are collected and sent to a lab to check for any abnormalities. Sex is not recommended 24 to 48 hours before a pap test because sex can irritate the tissues of the vagina and cervix and cause discharge, which can give an abnormal result.
