Pap Smear :
A Pap smear is a commonly used diagnostic test to observe for any pathological changes in cervix of women. It is a type of screening test for detection of premature or early stages/advanced stages of cervical cancer. A pap smear is conducted during the well woman exam/chair side visit with the gynecologist. It involves preparation of sterile environment, insertion of speculum into vagina and collection of cells from cervix. This sample is then sent for clinical investigatory analysis. The results of pap smear determine the further steps, if the result is abnormal then an additional confirmatory evaluation is necessary to proceed with treatment plans. If the result of pap smear is not clear, a repeat exam can be considered. However, if a pap smear is normal, then a 3-year or 5-year routine screening is conducted based on the age groups to monitor for any changes. As a woman ages above 65, the need for conducting routine pap smear is restricted if there is no history of abnormal pap smears.