Pap Smear
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Thrive Wellness Center For Women
Gynecology & Functional Medicine located in Glendale, CA
The Pap smear is a an important women’s health screening tool that’s helped drastically reduce the cervical cancer death rate for women in the United States. Jennifer Huddleston, PA-C, and the team at Thrive Wellness Center For Women in Glendale, California, includes the Pap smear in your annual exam when needed. To schedule your annual exam or learn more about the Pap smear, call the Los Angeles office or book an appointment using the online tool.
Pap Smear Q & A
What is the Pap smear? 
A Pap smear is a health screening tool for cervical cancer. The very important routine health screening should start around age 21.
If your Pap smear results are normal, you should continue to get the routine health screening every three years until you reach age 65. However, the team at Thrive Wellness Center For Women may suggest co-testing with a Pap smear and the human papilloma virus (HPV) test, or the HPV test by itself, once you reach age 30. If your HPV test and Pap smear are negative, you only need to repeat your co-testing every five years.
HPV is a very common sexually transmitted disease. Certain strains of HPV increase a woman’s risk of cervical cancer.
What can I expect during a Pap smear? 
Your Pap smear is conducted during a pelvic exam and only takes a few minutes. During your test, your provider at Thrive Wellness Center For Women places a small speculum in your vagina to get a better view of your cervix. Your provider then inserts a small, soft brush into your cervix to sweep up superficial cells.
Your provider sends the collected cells to a lab to look for any signs of abnormalities, such as pre-cancerous cells related to HPV.
Do I need a pelvic exam for the Pap smear?
The women’s health experts at Thrive Wellness Center For Women understand the anxiety you may feel when it comes to the pelvic exam, especially if you’re recovering from trauma or struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The team provides sensitive gynecology care and gently coaches and supports you through each part of your exam. The goal is to help you have a comfortable and empowering experience every step of the way.
The gynecology and functional medicine practice wants you to discover your own strengths and provides the tools you need to fully take charge of your health, as well as educating you about the natural ways you can enhance your cervical health.
If you’re due for your annual exam need to follow up on an abnormal Pap smear, or you’re scheduling your first gynecological exam, contact Thrive Wellness Center For Women by phone or online today.
