Cancer Screening - Cervical
Pap smear
Cervical cancer often has no symptoms until it has spread, but a Pap smear makes early detection possible. Pap smears are performed routinely during a pelvic examination to identify abnormal cells from the cervix and other reproductive organs. The doctor scrapes a small amount of tissue from the cervix for examination under a microscope.
Doctors recommend that woman have her first Pap smear at age 18, or earlier if she is sexually active.
