Although the Papanicolaou Test, or Pap smear, is vaguely discussed, it certainly is something that everyone with a vagina must face at some point in their lives. The Pap smear is a short procedure that is utilized to detect precancerous or cancerous activity in the cervix. The recommended age to begin getting Pap smears is 21; however, it is possible to get it done earlier. After the first exam, the procedure must be performed every 3 years to detect and take care of any changes. Each year, approximately 2000 African-American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with over 40 percent dying from the disease. One of the best methods in saving the lives of individuals diagnosed with cervical cancer is early detection. The Pap smear makes early detection possible and allows doctors to aid their patients in finding treatments that could potentially save their lives.
Yes, Pap-smears are important and beneficial, but let’s be honest, the first Pap smear experience is terrifying! When I reflect on my first time getting a Pap smear, I imagine myself sitting awkwardly on the cold exam room chair, waiting for the doctor to walk in. “Please explain why I have to do this.” “How did it feel when you did it?” “I don’t think I did enough mental preparation for this.” Are just a few of the texts I sent to my mom and friends as I blew up their phones, desperate for some type of comfort. When the doctor finally walked in, she did the regular check-up and asked questions about my mental, physical and sexual health. After confirming that I had 10 fingers and 10 toes, she told me to lay back, bend my knees, and open my legs. She walked me through the procedure before getting started and, truthfully, it made me more nervous than I already was. I laid there, tense and uncomfortable, waiting for it to be over. After about 15 minutes of uneasiness, she told me I could get up and I realized I had been holding my breath for who knows how long. The procedure itself was not that bad, but comfortable is definitely not on the list of words I would use to describe it. If I had a little more knowledge about what I could do before the procedure to be in a better mental state, the experience probably would have been a lot less horrifying.
Although there is little to nothing that you can do to fully prepare yourself for your first Pap smear, there are things that can be done to ensure that you are as close to comfortable as possible.
TAME THE MANE
Gynecologists have seen many different types of private parts and have explained time and time again that hair does not bother them; however, feeling fresh and well-groomed down there can take off a small portion of the natural anxiety that comes along with being so exposed.
DO NOT GO WHILE YOU ARE MENSTRUATING
It is absolutely possible to get a Pap smear while on your period, but for both comfortability and the sake of your results, it is better if you don’t. Getting the procedure done while menstruating can impact your results and cause them to come back inaccurate. If you can avoid it, do not get a Pap smear while on your period.
AVOID INTERCOURSE
Having sexual intercourse before your Pap Test can cause obscure cells to be washed away. Sexual intercourse, douching and vaginal medications should be avoided for up to 2 days before the procedure to ensure accurate results. By avoiding this, you can go in confident that you have done everything possible to ensure your results are accurate.
The most uncomfortable part of the procedure was the fact that I did not know what to expect.
WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO RELAX- DO IT
The first thing that the doctor told me to do before getting started was to relax. For some reason, my brain did not process what the word “relax” meant in that moment so I was stiff and tense the entire time. This alone made the procedure seem like it lasted longer than it actually did. Take deep breaths, think about something that makes you happy and remember that the more relaxed you are, the less discomfort you will experience.
Hearing the stories of those close to me was helpful, but it was not until I experienced it for myself that I realized the Pap smear is not as scary as it seems. When taking a breath and finally hopping off of the exam table, I thought to myself, “It was not that bad, I just was not prepared enough.” Mental preparation and physical preparation will be your best friends when it is time for your first Pap smear. Remember, this slight, short-term discomfort will play an instrumental part in keeping track of your health. It may not be the best feeling, but you deserve to know what is going on with your body and what needs to be done to keep it fully functioning and healthy.
Xoxo,
Sarah Jones-Smith, Howard University