Office of Student Health Services

Healthcare providers agree that you should have a PAP exam every 3 years beginning at the age of 21 or sooner if you have symptoms such as pain or discharge.  This should become part of your routine health care.  A PAP exam and HPV test done together is called co-testing.   HPV tests can show whether you have a type of HPV that causes cervical cancer.  Getting an HPV vaccine greatly reduces your risk of cervical cancer, but even if you have received the vaccine, you should still be screened for cervical cancer with a PAP exam. 

 

Taking the following precautions will help ensure the accuracy of the PAP exam:

• Intercourse and Douching should be avoided for at least 2-3 days before your appointment. These activities can obscure cervical cells and affect the test results.
• Timing: If is best to schedule a PAP exam a week after your menstrual period ends.  This helps ensure accurate results as menstruation can interfere with the test.  If you have irregular periods, please talk to a healthcare provider about the best timing for an exam.   

During your appointment with the Nurse Practitioner, you will be asked a series of questions regarding your medical history.  Questions that are part of the assessment may include, but are not limited to:

Sexual history including partners, current methods to prevent pregnancy, protection used for STI prevention and history or exposure of STI’s.  It is important for your healthcare provider to know this information to gather details that will help provide you with the most accurate diagnosis, effective treatment option and education to optimize your reproductive and sexual wellbeing.

• A complete medical history is important because this can help identify risk factors that will help your healthcare provider decide which tests are best for you.
• Some patients may not be comfortable discussing their sexual history. It is your right to refuse to answer any questions, but doing so may limit the healthcare provider’s ability to adequately evaluate you.
• Healthcare providers will ask about your general physical and mental health, substance and smoking use, allergies and current medications, sexual health practices, family history of cancer, details about your menstrual period and whether you been sexually abused or assaulted.

During an appointment scheduled for a PAP exam, a clinical breast exam and pelvic exam will be performed by the healthcare provider.    

During this exam, a healthcare provider will assess the breast for any rash, dimpling or abnormal signs.  The manual exam is done on one side and then the other.

A thin cervical brush will be sued to gently collect cells from the cervix.  The sample collected will be sent to the lab for testing to detect any changes to the cervical cells. You may also request to be screened for STI or other vaginal infections during the exam.  You may feel slight discomfort or pressure during a pelvic exam, but it should not be painful.  If you experience pain, please tell the healthcare provider right away and make sure to ask any questions prior to or during the exam. 

A trained healthcare professional will be present during a sensitive health exam (clinical breast exam and/or pelvic exam).  Remember that you are in charge during the examination, and you have the right to stop the exam at any time or seek care elsewhere. 

We understand the individual needs of our students, and we encourage you to be clear about your needs and/or concerns.  If you need to remove clothing to be examined, you will be provided with a disposable gown or drape to provide for privacy and allow only the part of your body being examined to be uncovered.

Before you leave, the healthcare provider will discuss your concerns and tell you how you will get the results of any tests that were performed.  All medical information is confidential and you will only receive a notification via email or phone prompting you to contact the Office of Student Health for more details.