We all have to (or had to) get our first Pap smear. No matter what your experience might be, getting your first pap smear can be intimidating.
Don’t worry—we’re here to help. At Crescent Beach Care, we are here to help you maintain your health with providers you can trust. This guide will help you understand what happens during Pap smears in St. Augustine, what to expect, and how to prepare.
The Pap Smear Process
For your Pap smear, your provider will guide you to a comfortable treatment room and give you the privacy to undress from the waist down, lie down on the examination table, and cover yourself with a privacy blanket.
Once you are ready, your provider will return to the room. Our providers prioritize your comfort, so they will walk you through every stop of the process before and during the exam. They will pick a speculum based on your body’s shape and your prior experience with Pap smears. If you have a tight pelvic floor, they may prescribe you a muscle relaxer to take before your appointment.
Your provider will then insert the speculum into your vaginal canal, opening the speculum to allow them to see your cervix. They will then use a small, gentle-bristled brush to swab the opening of your cervix. This entire process for a Pap smear in St. Augustine only takes a few minutes.
Why You Need a Pap Smear
Pap smears are used to test for cervical cancer and HPV, which is a sexually transmitted virus that causes most cervical cancers.
While not as common as breast cancer, cervical cancer still is a widely diagnosed form of cancer—with about 11,500 new cases diagnosed each year and causing 4,000 deaths.
How to Prepare
Here is how you can prepare for your Pap smear in St. Augustine. Following these instructions will help you remain comfortable before, during, and after the exam.
- Avoid sexual intercourse for 48 hours before your appointment.
- Do not use lubricant or estrogen creams for 48 hours before treatment.
- If you have a tight pelvic floor, ask your provider about a muscle relaxer.
- Drink plenty of water the day of your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it hurt?
Getting a Pap smear should not be painful, but it can be uncomfortable, especially if you have a tight pelvic floor or if it’s your first Pap smear. Our providers do everything they can to make your appointment comfortable, including prescribing medications and selecting the speculum size based on your anatomy.
Do I still need a Pap smear if I’m not sexually active?
Yes! If you are over the age of 21, you will need a Pap smear regardless of your sexual activity. While HPV is the cause of most cervical cancers, it is not the cause for all of them, so regular screenings are ideal for monitoring your health.
Can I be tested on my period?
Yes, you can get a Pap smear while on your period, but it’s typically not recommended because it can alter the results of your test and cause additional discomfort. We would rather wait until you are not menstruating.
Get Tested in Comfort
Our team does everything possible to ensure our patients are comfortable during their pap smears in St. Augustine—whether it’s your first one or your 50th. Schedule an appointment today to monitor and maintain your vaginal health.