Pap Test or Pap Smear Offered in Baltimore at Mercy

The Institute for Gynecologic Care at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, provides patients comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic conditions and disorders. Our gynecologists offer the pap test as a diagnostic procedure for cervical cancer.

What is a Pap Test?

A pap test, known also as a pap smear, is a procedure to diagnose cervical cancer in women. Pap test may be performed as a part of a patient’s routing gynecologic check-up. Early detection of unusual changes of cervical cells may be very helpful in curing cervical cancer or preventing future cervical cancer.

How is a Pap Test performed?

A pap test can be performed in just a few minutes and is a relatively painless procedure. The doctor will use an instrument known as speculum to hold open the walls of the vagina. The doctor will then use an instrument known as a spatula to collect cervical cells from the cervix, the narrow end of the uterus at the top of the vagina. The sample will be tested in a laboratory for results.

Who should receive a Pap Test?

The gynecologists at The Institute for Gynecologic Care will help determine your frequency for pap tests based on factors including your age and risk factors for gynecologic disorders. Generally, women begin completing pap tests at every two to three years at age 20-21. Women age 30 and older generally complete a pap test every three years or every five years if combined with a test for human papillomavirus (HPV).