How is the Pap test performed?

The woman sits in the gynecological chair, like she does during a gynecological examination. The doctor inserts the speculum inside the vagina and opens the vaginal canal to reveal the uterine cervix. A soft brush that looks like a tiny broom is brushed around the surface of the cervix and the endocervical canal, collecting cells. The test doesn’t hurt. It may cause mild crampy discomfort for the patient. These cells are later stained and evaluated through a microscope (Figure).