Pap Smears Performed by a Female Doctor in Orlando, FL
A Pap smear is a screening test that can detect precancerous and cancerous changes in a woman’s cervix. Many experts believe that this relatively simple and highly effective test has significantly reduced the number of cervical cancer cases in the United States. The American Cancer Society recommends that most women have an initial Pap test performed within three years of becoming sexually active, or at age 21, whichever comes first, and then every three years thereafter (or at the frequency recommended by her doctor) until she reaches age 65.
What Happens During a Pap Smear?
A Pap smear is performed in a doctor’s office during a pelvic exam. After gently inserting a speculum into the woman’s vagina to separate its walls, the doctor can clearly view and examine the woman’s cervix. Using a small plastic tool and brush, the doctor then collects a small sample of cells from the cervix. The entire process takes only a few minutes and involves minimal discomfort, if any. The sample is then sent to a lab for testing, and the result is typically available within approximately one week.
What if a Pap Smear Result Is Abnormal?
An abnormal Pap smear is not unusual, nor is it necessarily a cause for concern. Healthy cervical cells are thin and flat. If a Pap test is abnormal, this means that the sample contained abnormally shaped cervical cells, and the doctor may recommend follow-up testing. Most of the abnormal cells found during Pap smears are a result of a cervical or vaginal infection and are not cancerous.
If you’re a member of Optimum Direct Care, a direct primary care practice located in Orlando, FL, Dr. Toni “Muzzi” Muzzonigro can perform your routine Pap smears as part of the preventive care included in your membership package. As a board-certified family practice physician, Dr. Muzzi is especially passionate about caring for women and children, combining both her medical expertise and real-world knowledge as a mother of two.