PAP SMEAR - Sexual Health - Teens Message Board

Mr DuCkY · 02-02-2003, 09:41 PM

I was wonderin if someone could tell me if a pap smear hurts or not, my girlfriend is worried sick and since its half my fault we are in a mess i figured i would do something productive

thx for any info related to a pap smear

Dramaqueen · 02-02-2003, 10:02 PM

Hey,

Well although pap smears are definately scary if your girl needs one done, it needs to be done, no way out of it.

Basically this is what happens, it may very from person to person. The doctor will put a instrument called a speculum into her vagina. This will help open the vagina so a sample can be taken. The doctor will gently clean her cervix with a cotton swab and then collect a sample of cells with a small brush, a tiny spatula or a cotton swab. This sample is then put on a glass slide and sent to a lab to be checked. There should be no pain, but it will be a bit uncomfortable and akward for her. Get her to ask any questions or tell the doctor any worries she may have before the examination. The doctor should put her mind at rest. He or she will also do an outside check for any abnormal things and will ask her what her sexual health's like.

Tel her not to stress (even though it's obviously hard not to!), they've seen it all a million times before, and she'll feel alot better when it's all done.

mlgable · 02-03-2003, 11:54 AM

A pap smear does not hurt and if it does then doc is not doing a very good job. A yearly pap smear should be done when a women becomes sexually active or when she turns 18 whichever comes first. Tell her to relax as there is no pain involved and the doctor will only be doing his job. He/she has seen it all before and heard it all before so nothing will shock the doc.

butterfly02 · 02-03-2003, 04:21 PM

what is a pap smear for?

wrin · 02-03-2003, 06:33 PM

Actually, If you ask some gynos, technically it's not supposed to hurt but for a lot of women, it does. It's very minor, though.

It's more likely to be painful if the doctor uses more up-to-date techniques to grab cells -- like instead of using the traditional wooden curette ... teh "popsicle stick" as it were ... if he uses a cytology brush, which is a little like a mascara wand.

She may as well learn to suck it up now. I personally have no sympathy for people who're squeamish about medical procedures short of surgery -- needle pokes, stitches and the like.