Skip to main content

Pap Smear Specialist

Associates in Women's Health

Gynecologists & Aesthetic Specialists located in Cincinnati, OH

Are you up-to-date with your Pap smear tests? A Pap smear is an excellent preventive care method for women that protects against cervical cancer. The test examines your cells for abnormalities that could indicate cancer and other conditions. The physicians at Associates in Women’s Health have many years of experience in performing Pap smear tests for patients in Cincinnati, Ohio. If you’re due for a Pap smear test, call or click to schedule your appointment today.

Pap Smear Q & A

What is a Pap smear?

A Pap smear test is a procedure used to test for cervical cancer. During the test, your Associates in Women’s Health provider will collect cells from your cervix.

Most women should still get a Pap test every year. For women over 65 or those that no longer have a cervix due to hysterectomy, less frequent testing may be necessary.

A human papillomavirus (HPV) test can be conducted at the same time as a Pap test, and is routinely done with pap smears on patients from age 30 to 64.

What can I expect during my Pap smear test?

Your Pap smear test is quick and performed in-office. Your doctor will carefully place an instrument called a speculum into your vagina to gently hold open the vaginal walls. This allows your doctor to see your cervix.

Using a small, soft brush or scraping tool, your doctor takes samples of your cervical cells. The sample is sent to a lab to be examined for abnormalities that could indicate cancer, HPV, or other conditions that need to be addressed promptly.

What is a colposcopy?

A colposcopy is also a type of cervical cancer test. If your Pap smear results come back abnormal, you’ll likely need a colposcopy. A colposcopy is an in-office procedure that allows your doctor to examine your cervix even more closely with a special magnifying instrument.

A colposcopy is also advisable if you complain of abnormal pelvic pain or bleeding. It’s used to evaluate:

  • An inflamed cervix
  • Genital warts on the cervix
  • Polyps, or growths on the cervix that are not cancerous

What is a loop electrosurgical excision procedure, or a LEEP?

A loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is a standard procedure that prevents cervical cancer by removing abnormal cells from your cervix.

Your doctor uses a small electrical wire loop to remove the abnormal cells. Typically, they perform it when a Pap smear, a biopsy, or a colposcopy yields abnormal results.

When did you last have a check-up and a pap smear test? Rest assured, you’re in good hands with the Associates in Women’s Health team. Call or book your appointment online today.