The Basics
What Happens During a Pap Test?
A Pap test lasts about 2-5 minutes. It may feel uncomfortable, but a Pap test doesn’t hurt.
While you lie on the exam table, the doctor or nurse puts a medical tool (called a speculum) into your vagina, opening it to see the cervix. She will use a special brush to collect a few cells from the cervix. These cells are sent to the lab for testing.
The doctor or nurse will also do a pelvic exam to check the uterus, ovaries, and other organs.
