It was invented by George Papanicolaou in 1928 and involves the taking of cells from the surface of the ectocervix, the endocercix and the upper vagina. Then the sample is being seen by the cytologist under the microscope for possible abnormalities and precancerous lesions.
It is a painless test. After the examination, women sometimes may notice a few drops of blood from the point of collection. It is normal and you shouldn’t worry at all.
Every sexually active woman should be subjected to this test 1once a year.
If the result is not completely normal, which means that there might have been found some atypical cervical cells, you can, depending on what the report is, and after detailed counselling with your gynaecologist, either to undergo a detailed examination of the cervix (colposcopy) with or without biopsies, or to try to identify the virus HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) – virus which long term can cause cancer of the cervix with the PCR method – or to do nothing and repeat Pap test in 3-6months.