Do virgins need Pap smears? Answer From Tatnai Burnett, M.D. Yes. Doctors recommend routine cervical cancer screening, regardless of your sexual history.
Yes. Doctors recommend routine cervical cancer screening, regardless of your sexual history. Tests used to screen for cervical cancer include the Pap test and the HPV test. Your doctor can help you understand whether one or both of these tests is best for you.
Do Virgins Need Pap Smears? The majority of healthcare providers recommend women begin pap smears at age 21. If you're a virgin, or haven't had vaginal intercorse, you may be at extreme low risk but can still consider getting tested.
There may be variables such as how gentle the Doctor or nurse is, and whether you are anxious and tightening the vaginal muscles involuntarily. For virgins a Pap smear might hurt a bit because the speculum is opened up inside them, which is a sensation they won't be used to.
Do I still need Pap tests? Yes, you should continue to see your ob-gyn after you have a hysterectomy. Depending on the reason for your hysterectomy, you still may need pelvic exams and cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer screening includes Pap tests, testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), or both.
You can also stop an examination you no longer want to continue, such as a Pap smear or STI screening. Tell your care provider to stop or slow down; request a five-minute break; or reschedule the exam for another day. If a patient feels coerced into agreeing to a procedure, it's not true consent.
A pelvic exam or a vaginal exam cannot reveal with absolute certainty that a woman is a virgin or has been sexually active. A gynecologist can't tell if you are a virgin by doing a physical exam because of the variation in different hymens and the absence of a hymen isn't an indicator of sexual activity.
A Pap smear should not hurt but may feel uncomfortable. You could experience light bleeding afterward, but you should not feel pain or cramping. Let your healthcare provider know if you feel discomfort lasting more than a few minutes or if the bleeding lasts longer than 24 hours.
Avoid intercourse, douching, or using any vaginal medicines or spermicidal foams, creams or jellies for two days before having a Pap smear, as these may wash away or obscure abnormal cells. Try not to schedule a Pap smear during your menstrual period. It's best to avoid this time of your cycle, if possible.
Pap Smear Procedure
It takes about 10-20 minutes for the whole exam, but only a few minutes for the actual Pap smear. The test is done in your doctor's office or clinic.
The answer is yes! If you've scheduled an appointment with your gynecologist and you're on your period, there is no need to cancel the appointment. Normal vaginal bleeding should not get in the way of a Pap smear or pelvic exam.
Many people who have a Pap smear notice light bleeding, or spotting, for a couple of days after the test. In most cases, this is not a cause for concern, and it usually goes away without intervention. This symptom may occur because the Pap smear can irritate the blood vessels of the cervix, which causes light bleeding.
It's totally normal for women to experience a little bit of discomfort following a pelvic exam, especially if it's their first one. It's also common for women after a pap test to have mild cramping and/or light bleeding for a couple of days after a pap test (smear).
Most of the time, a doctor can't tell if a girl has had sex just from a pelvic exam (and doctors don't usually give teen girls pelvic exams unless there's a sign of a problem). But you should let your doctor know if you've had sex anyway.
Discomfort and bleeding or cramping after a pap smear is normal because this area of our body is so sensitive. After a pap smear or pelvic exam, blood rushes to the cervix and your other reproductive organs. This is why the irritation and bleeding from the cervical scratch or scrape may occur.
Another common question is whether a gynecologist can tell if you're sexually active. It's very difficult and sometimes impossible for a health care provider to make this determination without asking you. A pelvic or visual exam usually doesn't offer many clues about sexual activity.
The hymen surrounds your vaginal opening like a ring or donut, and then, as it tears or stretches, it appears more like a crescent. If you have an annular or crescent-shaped hymen, it might look slightly different depending on the way your hymen has stretched or torn.
To recap - while anybody can have a pap smear, and if you want to have one, then you do you, if you have never been sexually active, your risk is so low that it may not be worth it, and many countries' guidelines recommend that you do not initiate screening until you are sexually active, partly because there are harms ...
Be prepared. “On the day of the smear by all means have a shower or a bath, as it will make you feel more confident and less self-conscious. But there is no need to wash more than you normally would, or use anything other than water and unscented soap. Wear clothing that is quick and easy to take off and on.”
However, bleeding usually happens due to the cervix being irritated by the test, rather than an indicator that something is wrong. A small amount of blood (also known as spotting), is normal. It's quite common and it can happen for many reasons, which we talk through in the rest of this blog..
In cervical screening (a smear test), a nurse or doctor will take a sample of your cells and test this for high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV infections are really common and most people get HPV at some point in their lives.
When preparing for a Pap smear, it is best to: Not use vaginal creams, foams, gels, douches or tampons 48 hours (two days) before your Pap smear. These products could cause an abnormal result. Not have sex 48 hours (two days) before your Pap smear.
Self-collection is when a woman takes her own sample for cervical screening. The sample is taken with a long cotton swab and is done under the supervision of a healthcare professional who also offers cervical screening.
Doctors recommend routine cervical cancer screening, regardless of your sexual history. Tests used to screen for cervical cancer include the Pap test and the HPV test. Your doctor can help you understand whether one or both of these tests is best for you. The purpose of a Pap test is to collect cells from the cervix.