These might include a procedure called a During a colposcopy, your doctor will insert a speculum into your vagina, just as he did for the Pap test. Not to be confused with the short-lived Jeff Hanneman/Dave Lombardo and Rocky George (Suicidal Tendencies) project of the mid-'80s.Compilation Appearances: - "Die Killing" on Speed Metal Hell Vol. AskMayoExpert. Factors that can cause a false-negative result include:Although it's possible for abnormal cells to go undetected, time is on your side. "Squamous cell cancer" refers to cancers arising in the flat surface cells of the vagina or cervix. There are several reasons you could have an abnormal Pap smear. It's possible to receive false-negative results — meaning that the test indicates no abnormality, even though you do have abnormal cells.A false-negative result doesn't mean that a mistake was made. The tissue sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis and a definitive diagnosis. The tissue sample is placed in a special preservative and sent to a lab, where a trained pathologist examines the cells for signs of abnormal and cancerous growth. This usually doesn't hurt.After your Pap smear, you can go about your day without restrictions.Depending on the type of Pap testing you're undergoing, your doctor transfers the cell sample collected from your cervix into a container holding a special liquid to preserve the sample (liquid-based Pap test) or onto a glass slide (conventional Pap smear).The samples are transferred to a laboratory where they're examined under a microscope to look for characteristics in the cells that indicate cancer or a precancerous condition.Ask your doctor about when you can expect the results of your test.A Pap smear can alert your doctor to the presence of suspicious cells that need further testing.If only normal cervical cells were discovered during your Pap smear, you're said to have a negative result. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. The test should then be repeated in 2-3 months, because cancer of the cervix can be hidden by an infection. He’ll let you know for sure.You shouldn’t have a Pap smear during your period. Detecting these abnormal cells early with a Pap smear is your first step in halting the possible development of cervical cancer.The Pap smear is usually done in conjunction with a pelvic exam. Next, a sample of cells from your cervix is collected using a small cone-shaped brush and a tiny plastic spatula (1 and 2). In a Pap test, your doctor uses a vaginal speculum to hold your vaginal walls apart and to see the cervix. Cervical cancer screening. If you have inflammation or minor cell changes, your doctor may take a “wait and see” approach. They’ll come back either negative (normal) or positive (abnormal).A negative result is a good thing. Some of these include:Talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns. A Pap smear can also detect changes in your cervical cells that suggest cancer may develop in the future. However, a Pap smear isn't foolproof. A positive result doesn't mean you have cervical cancer. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. A pap smear is done to look for changes in cervical cells before they turn into Women ages 21-65 should have a Pap smear on a regular basis. If you're sexually active with multiple partners, your doctor may recommend continuing Pap testing.A Pap smear is a safe way to screen for cervical cancer. In certain situations a woman and her doctor may decide to end Pap testing, such as:If your hysterectomy was performed for a noncancerous condition, such as uterine fibroids, you may be able to discontinue routine Pap smears.But if your hysterectomy was for a precancerous or cancerous condition of the cervix, your doctor may recommend continuing routine Pap testing.Discuss your options with your doctor and together you can decide what's best for you based on your risk factors. Inserting the speculum may cause a sensation of pressure in your pelvic area.Then your doctor will take samples of your cervical cells using a soft brush and a flat scraping device called a spatula. Or they might consider HPV testing instead of the Pap test.If you have certain risk factors, your doctor may recommend more-frequent Pap smears, regardless of your age. What a positive result means depends on the type of cells discovered in your test.Here are some terms your doctor might use and what your next course of action might be:With the liquid-based test, your doctor can reanalyze the sample to check for the presence of viruses known to promote the development of cancer, such as some types of human papillomavirus (HPV).If no high-risk viruses are present, the abnormal cells found as a result of the test aren't of great concern.