Pap Smear

A Pap smear is a screening test used to detect abnormal cells in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is often used to detect cervical cancer in its early stages, when it is most treatable. The procedure is simple and only takes a few minutes. During a Pap smear, a healthcare provider will use a tiny brush to swab cells from the cervix which are then sent to a laboratory for examination. Since the advent of Pap smears in the 1950s, the incidence of cervical cancer has significantly dropped, making it one of the most successful cancer prevention tests available.