What is Pap smear (Cervical smear)?
Category: Procedures
The Papanicolaou Smear, also called Pap smear and Cervical smear is a way to examine cells collected from the cervix (the lower, narrow end of the uterus). The main purpose of the Pap test is to detect cancer or abnormal cells that may lead to cancer.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| General health | 50 | 8 | |
| Evaluation/monitoring | 10 | 6 | |
| Diagnostic assessment | 5 | 12 | |
| Human papillomavirus infection | 4 | 2 | |
| Bleeding gums | 1 | 1 | |
| Cancer worries | 1 | 0 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 1 | |
| Moderate | 1 | |
| Mild | 2 | |
| None | 17 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Pap smear (Cervical smear)
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal pain | 1 | |
| Anxious mood | 1 | |
| Flashbacks | 1 | |
| Vaginal bleeding | 1 |
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