Pap Smear in Las Vegas, NV

Are you due for your Pap smear? Our board-certified or board-eligible OBGYNs at Essential Women's Health Associates offer Pap smears on their own, but we mostly perform them during routine annual exams. When you make an appointment, we ask that you not be menstruating on the date of your Pap smear. Also, it is a good idea to not use any medications topically on your vagina, use a douching product, insert tampons, or have sexual intercourse before your Pap. Why? You do not want to hinder getting the most accurate result.

In a Pap smear, your practitioner will collect cervical cells while doing your pelvic exam. These cells are very important to test because of cervical cancer. We will send the sample to a laboratory to check for human papillomavirus (HPV), precancer, or cancer cells within the cervix. In less than five minutes that it takes to prepare and perform the Pap smear, you could be adding years to your life by finding abnormal cells early. At Essential Women's Health Associates, we have offices in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV for your convenience. 

Regular pap smears in Las Vegas, NV at Essential Women's Health Associates are a crucial part of maintaining your sexual wellness that offer multiple health benefits, including:

• Detects changes and abnormalities in cervical cells
• Provides earlier diagnosis of cervical cancer
• Helps reduce the need for more radical treatments
• Supports better treatment outcomes
• Reduces the probability of cancer spreading (if present)
• Gives you peace of mind

If you have a Pap smear result come back as abnormal, your OBGYN will most likely want to have you come back in for further testing, depending on what was found in the previous test. You may also consider talking to your practitioner about how to eliminate the atypical cervical cells.

During your annual pelvic exam, your practitioner can also perform your Pap smear at the same time. You will lie on your back with your feet in stirrups. The speculum will be inserted into your vagina to hold it open for your practitioner to use a swab and collect some cells from your cervix. The speculum will be taken out and the test will be over. We will send your collected cells to the lab for testing.

For additional diagnostics, we can also perform a colposcopy in our office in the same way we carry out a Pap smear. The difference is that we will be using a magnifying colposcope, and your practitioner can have a closer view of your cervix and other female reproductive organs and tissues. We can also look for growths, polyps, cysts, and more. If something is found, your practitioner may take a biopsy of the concerning tissues.

If you are sexually active or 21 years of age and older, we recommend including pap smears in your annual women's wellness exams. This testing usually continues until the age of 65. This testing is recommended no matter your medical history. However, if you have had a hysterectomy, talk to your Las Vegas, NV provider to find out more about your prevention options.

To remove the abnormal cells from your cervix, there are many options available to you at Essential Women's Health Associates. Loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP), or surgery are common gynecologic procedures for destroying unwanted cells. The LEEP can be performed in our office with a local anesthetic injected into the area to be treated. This technique will not ablate the area. A small wire loop will collect the cells using an electrical current.

We may also recommend outpatient surgery, like a hysteroscopy, with anesthesia. This requires that a hysteroscope (with a camera for imaging and guiding purposes) be inserted into your vaginal canal for visibility of your cervix. A saline solution will be put in and fill up your uterus for the procedure. The hysteroscope will help your practitioner see and identify cells that need to be biopsied or eliminated. You will discuss with your OBGYN what the next steps will be if cells are found. 

Does a routine Pap smear hurt?

A Pap smear is generally painless, but some women report feeling some discomfort from the medical instrument that collects cells from their cervix. Our team at Essential Women's Health Associates understands that some patients are uncomfortable with their annual pelvic exams. Speak with our staff about ways we can make the exam more comfortable for you.

How do I prepare for a Pap smear?

Patients should arrive with a knowledge of their medical and family history of gynecological issues like cervical cancer. We ask that you avoid using topical medications on your vagina and tampons until after your appointment in Las Vegas, NV. Sexual intercourse immediately before your Pap smear may also prevent you from getting the most accurate results.

How long does it take to get results?

It takes several business days or longer to receive the results of a Pap smear. Rest assured that our staff will call you as soon as the outcomes are available. If your test results show that you have an infection or pre-cancerous cells, one of our trained OBGYNs will contact you immediately to discuss your next steps.

Once you've had an abnormal Pap smear, we will likely require that you have more than one Pap test a year. Your practitioner may request that you come in every three or four months to have the cells on your cervix tested to safeguard you with an early diagnosis. Being proactive about your feminine health is the key to protecting your overall well-being. Your health is our main priority at Essential Women's Health Associates in Las Vegas or Henderson, NV. Make your appointment today.