All Your Most Personal Pap Smear and Pelvic Examination Questions, Answered

This has been a record-breaking year for women.  Women all over the world are making huge gains in leadership, business, political activism and more.

This is the year that the film Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, a female director, broke records.  Indeed, women are breaking glass ceilings every day.  Female empowerment is vital and important for all of us as women ⏤ as sisters, mothers,  spouses,  partners, and friends.  Empowerment of self in the business and professional world begins with the empowerment of Mind, Body, and Spirit.

This means understanding our health physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Let’s begin with our physical health.  Are you going to the doctor annually? Are you making sure to check in with your physician? Are you taking the steps to make sure you’re healthy inside and out?

One dreaded, but extremely important examination is the Pap Smear and Pelvic Examination.  This is an examination of the cervix for cancer cells as well as a manual examination of the vagina, cervix, and ovaries for any abnormalities including but not limited to ovarian tumors, and cysts. Early detection is key to improved outcomes.  The pap smear examination may also include a screening for High-risk HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).

Have questions? Lucky for you, I like to answer them. Ahead, I share my answers to all your pap questions.

WHEN? WHO DECIDES?

According to the United States Preventative Services Test Force (USPSTF), American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Women under the age of 21 are not recommended to get pap tests.