Pap Smear Specialist in Coral Springs, FL

A pap smear, also commonly referred to as a pap test, is a screening tool used to check for cervical cancer in women. Dr. George Papanicolaou is the doctor who created pap smears; this is where their name comes from. During the smear, the physician takes cells from the cervix to check for any abnormal indicators, such as abnormal cell growth, that can indicate the development of cancer and can also be used to determine if there are infections in the area or inflammation. The method that a pap smear uses to gather cells is through the use of a small brush-like swab that is moved against the cervix to capture these cells. Pap smears should not be confused with pelvic exams. Pelvic exams involve manual palpitation of the ovaries, uterus, and female reproductive system to check for abnormalities, pain, or growth. During your pelvic exam, you may have a pap smear done, but you should confirm with the physician that your pelvic exam includes a pap smear. Pap smears are important for female health and should be viewed as a preventative measure, as pap smears help with early detection of cervical cancer, which increases the likelihood of better outcomes after treatment than those who do not have pap smears done regularly.

The recommended age to start having pap smears (pap tests) done is 21 years of age, even if you are not sexually active yet. Once you are 30 years old or older, it is recommended to start having a pap smear done every year. Unless you have never had an abnormal smear, you will still be able to have one done every three years. Once you are 30 years old or older, you will also have an HIV test (co-test) done every 5 years.
 
Women who are 65 years old or older will have a different process with pap smears, where there will be three smears done alongside HIV tests at the appointment and the determination of abnormal smears will be based on the ratio of abnormal vs. normal smears done and if the HIV tests done also match the results of the pap smear.
 
For women who have had an abnormal pap smear, your recommendations will be different and you may be required to have one every year to make sure that there are no changes in the pap smear results to mitigate the risk of developing cervical cancer. Your physician may have different recommendations based on your family history as well, as women whose mothers have had cervical cancer may carry a higher risk of developing cervical cancer so you may be asked to have pap smears done more frequently or begin having them before age 21 but this is based on your physician’s recommendations only.

Pap smears are designed to capture cells in the cervix to detect cervical cancer. Though they can be used to determine if there is an infection or inflammation present, this is not what Pap smears are actually for or meant to be used for. Pap smears can be done at the same time as a pelvic exam and an STD test, which is why it can be confusing for some that Pap smears are only used to diagnose and determine the likelihood of cervical cancer developing.

The frequency with which you should have a pap smear done will be based on some factors, such as whether you are considered high risk, have had an abnormal smear, or have waited to have your first pap smear done. The average recommended frequency to have a pap smear done is every three years, from the age of 21 until you are 65. At 65 years old, the process of pap smears will change, and based on the results, it may be recommended that you have a pap test done every few years rather than every three years.
 
If you are looking for a pap smear test in Coral Springs, FL, come to Walking Urgent Care. Our team of specialists offers pap smears. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently locatedat 10308 W Sample Road Coral Springs, FL 33065. We serve patients from Coral Springs FL, Parkland FL, Tamarac FL, Margate FL, Boca Raton FL,  North Lauderdale FL, and Coconut Creek FL.