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Pap Smear

Healthcare for Women, LLC Our Services Pap Smear
Healthcare for Women, LLC - - OB-GYN

Healthcare for Women, LLC

OB-GYN located in Oak Park, IL

At Oak Park-based Healthcare for Women, Dr. Lyndon Taylor has screened many women who live in Chicago, Illinois for cervical cancer. A highly respected OB/GYN in the city, many of his patients highly recommend him to women who need a Pap smear.

Pap Smear Q & A

What is a Pap Smear?

A Pap Smear is a simple but effective test that screens for cervical cancer. The name Pap Smear is in honor of Dr Georgios Papanikolaou, who demonstrated that the pap was a reliable screening test for pre-cancerous and cancerous cells on the cervix, in 1928.
The pap smear has evolved over the years.  Today, Dr. Taylor uses the ThinPrep Pap test, the only liquid based pap test that is FDA approved for HPV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomonas in addition to improved cervical cancer screening.

When Should Women Get a Pap Smear?

Pap smears are recommended every 3 years for women aged 21-29 years of age.  At 30 co-testing with HPV is preferred until the age of 65.  Screening should stop at 65 in women with a negative history. 

What is getting a Pap Smear like?

Pap Smears are usually done during pelvic exams. To reach the cervix, an OB/GYN opens the vagina with a speculum.  Cells are collected from the cervix and placed into a vial. The vial is sent to a laboratory where the vial can be tested for precancerous cells of the cervix, HPV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomonas depending upon your risk factors. Each test has a cost.  Talk to your Doctor about which tests you would like to have done.

Why Should Women Get a Pap Smear?

Any woman who is at risk of potentially contracting cervical cancer should have a Pap smear done regularly. It’s the most reliable way of detecting cancer early, and cervical cancer is highly treatable when found early on. Because the exact frequency that women should have a Pap Smear done varies with age, medical history, sexual activity, and other factors, women should ask their OB/GYN for a recommendation on how frequently they get the test done.

How Long Does It Take to Get Results from a Pap Smear?

It can take 7 days to get results.  You can get your pap smear results online on your patient portal at PatientFusion.com