Pap smears help doctors look for cervical cancer, but can they detect HIV too? ... Your doctor will then use a soft brush and paddle or a broom-like device to gather cells from your cervix.

We know no one looks forward to pap smears. Here, ob/gyns share how to make a Pap smear easier on you and your vagina. ... then uses one or two brushes to collect cells from your cervix.

For the most accurate Pap smear, doctors recommend taking the following steps, starting 48 hours before your test. Don’t have sex or use lubricants. Don’t use sprays or powders near your vagina.

The Pap test has already reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by more than 60%. Modified Pap tests can show early warning signs of other gynecological cancers - Los Angeles Times ...

In a traditional Pap smear, a medical provider uses a plastic brush with bristles to gather cells, so this could be another reason why the at-home Pap is not as unpleasant.

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 ...

A Pap smear is a procedure that screens for signs of cervical cancer in women from ages 21 to 65. The test only lasts a few minutes and you should get results within a couple of days.