Friday, February, 10, 2012

Pap smear

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Papanicolaou test


What the risks are

There are no risks involved.


Special considerations

The Pap smear test is not 100% accurate. Cervical cancer may be missed in a small number of cases. Fortunately, cervical cancer develops very slowly in most women and follow-up Pap smears should identify worrisome changes in time for treatment.

The following drugs may affect Pap smears:

  • Colchicine
  • Compounds in cigarettes
  • Estrogen
  • Podophyllin
  • Progestins
  • Silver nitrate

Review Date: 03/30/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)