Pap smears are a great way of protecting a woman's health.

If you have ever been pregnant, then you know that you have a vaginal examination. It is a simple procedure to take a sample of your cells while they do the pap smear.

It is one of modern medicine's great achievements to give women this great up front warning if something is not quite right.

Go for it and be glad as it normally turns out well.

Good luck.

Roberta

oh i dont need to have one yet i was just wondering if they hurt...

None of mine have ever hurt. Uncomfortable? Yeah, quite. But painful? Nope.

You need to start getting annual paps when you are 18 or sexually active, whichever comes first.

No, they don't hurt for me. They are awkward, not really fun, but they don't hurt. You get used to it, though.

Is it best to shave before a Pap Smear or not.

idk what is best
but i always shower and shave before a pap

Showering yes, just so you feel better about someone you don't know looking around down there.
Shaving? Not really necessary, as they have women of all ages coming in, and there are quite a few who don't shave. I wouldn't know, but I think the majority of women don't shave...
My pap smears don't hurt, but sometimes when the doctor scrapes a little too hard, you might bleed a bit. It's okay The thing I hate most are putting my feet up on the stirrups... I'd rather keep my legs closed. But you can'g et a pap smear that way

:O you've had them scrape too hard and make you bleed??
wow i've never heard of that...

Dude, they're not using a knife.
And yes I bled, a couple drops.

Common pap smears use a gigantic q-tip to collect cells from the cervix. If you can imagine sticking a q-tip up your nose or inside your mouth and accidentally rubbing too hard, that's about all the pain you'll feel. Bleeding, if it happens, is light. The vagina and cervix are mucous membranes just like inside your nose and mouth, so they don't have a covering of traditional skin. It's just your bare organs.

I don't think they care if you shave or not. Washing up well would probably be nice, though lol. I always brush my teeth before I go to the dentist.

wait when i asked about them at planned parenthood they said that i didnt need one until i turn 21.


i am 17 and sexually active

You need to start getting them yearly once you are sexually active. I got my first at 18. (When I started having sex)

The reason is because they can monitor the health of your female parts and make sure you are not at risk for any kinds of infections or anything like that. Plus, an annual pap is important for detecting HPV, which can be sexually transmitted and can give you cancer.

Where can you go to get a pap smear?

Planned Parenthood is a good place to go. It's where I got my first pap and I didn't mind at all

Also, search for Women's Clinics in your area.

but planned parenthood is the ones who said i didnt need one until i was 21

I had my first PAP at 17, when I became sexually active.

I work in womens health, and I also work at a planned parenthood.

We ALWAYS tell women to have a PAP within 1 year of becoming sexually active.

DID you talk to a doctor, or JUST the front desk receptionist??

Doctors would never say to wait that long!

the docter person. the one who asked me all my questions to get birthcontrol

Hmmm

If you want to wait, that is up to you.

You CAN get cervical cancer though, and a PAP smear is they way to detect pre cancerous changes BEFORE it gets too bad.

I would get a PAP smear, but I am very health conscious, and believe in prevention.