What equipment is needed for a Pap smear?

What equipment is needed for a Pap smear?

For the Pap smear, your provider will use a plastic or metal instrument called a speculum to open the vagina, so the cervix can be seen. Your provider will then use a soft brush or plastic spatula to collect cells from the cervix.

What do I bring to a smear test?

Wear comfortable clothes The doctor or nurse taking the test needs you to be relaxed when taking the test – so make sure you’re comfortable. “Maybe you want to wear a skirt, so that we can lift that up and you still feel more covered – as opposed to taking off leggings or jeans,” says Dr Kaye.

Do you need a full bladder for a Pap smear?

Your health care provider will perform the Pap test during a pelvic exam in a private room in his or her office. It takes only a few minutes. The test may be uncomfortable, but it is not usually painful. You may experience less discomfort if you empty your bladder before the examination.

Can you take a shower before a Pap smear?

Do not use douche, bubble bath, or use vaginal medicine for three days before Pap test. You may shower, but do not tub bathe 24 hours before the Pap test. Inform your clinician about additional medications/conditions that may interfere with an accurate test.

What can’t you do before a smear test?

Don’t use any creams, medication or lubricants in your vagina before your smear. Jess advises: “These things can also get into the sample and make it difficult to see. “It doesn’t actually effect the result but it can make it hard for the person who’s looking at the sample to see what it is.”

What should you not do the day before a Pap smear?

Avoid intercourse, douching, or using any vaginal medicines or spermicidal foams, creams or jellies for two days before having a Pap smear, as these may wash away or obscure abnormal cells.

Should I shave before a Pap smear?

It doesn’t take much to prepare for a pap smear. Some women may feel like they need to shave their pubic hair, but it’s unnecessary for this test. You should only tackle it if you’ll be more comfortable. Your doctor has seen it all, so a little bit of pubic hair won’t bother him.

How long do Pap smears take?

Pap Smear Procedure The test is done in your doctor’s office or clinic. It takes about 10 to 20 minutes. You’ll lie on a table with your feet placed firmly in stirrups. You’ll spread your legs, and your doctor will insert a metal or plastic tool (speculum) into your vagina.

What instruments are used for a Pap smear?

To perform a Pap smear, care providers use a medical instrument called a speculum. Some woman refer to it as “the duck,” because its appearance resembles duck bills.

Is a Pap smear necessary after a hysterectomy?

It is still necessary to get a pap smear after a hysterectomy in many cases. For partial hysterectomies, on the uterus is removed and the cervix is still in place making it necessary to be regularly tested.

Can medical assistant do a Pap smear?

Medical Assistant Pap Smear. The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is a test used to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous changes in the uterine cervix. As a medical assistant in a doctor’s office, you may be asked to assist the doctor with Pap smears which are often combined with breast examinations as part of regular health screening.

What does the Pap test for?

Pap Test. Definition. The Pap test is a procedure in which a physician scrapes cells from the cervix or vagina to check for cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, or abnormal changes that could lead to cancer.