Pap smear screening

Pap smear screening is a test for detecting cell abnormalities that could lead to cancer in a woman's cervix.

A health care provider inserts an instrument (a speculum) to open the woman's vagina. A spatula and/or brush are used to sweep around the cervix (opening to the uterus or womb) and take a sample of cells. A cytotechnologist looks at the cells under a microscope. The cytotechnologist is looking for cells that, if left untreated, might turn into invasive cervical cancer.