by Justine Deputy, RN, MSN
One of the most well-known reasons for coming to your annual gynecological is the pap smear! But what is it? And why is it important?
First, I want to mention how important it is to have a yearly appointment, and not just because of the pap smear. There is much more to it! GYN visits include screening, evaluation, education, and counseling on a variety of topics. At The Birth Center, this is a 30-minute appointment with one of the Certified Nurse-Midwives. You can read more about why I recommend The Birth Center for GYN visits here.
Back to the pap smear and cervical cancer screening. Thankfully, cervical cancer is highly preventable through pap tests and HPV tests. The American College of Nurse-Midwives has a wonderful resource that explains what cervical cancer is, what causes it, how to test for it, what happens if you receive a positive result, and how to prevent cervical cancer.
Find their resources here! And make sure to talk to your Certified-Nurse Midwife at your next appointment about cervical cancer screening and any questions you might have.