Pap Smear tests

I'd be interested to learn at what age women here had their first cervical smear test (pap), it seems to differ greatly due to factors such as country lived in for example.

In the UK cervical smears are offered every three years from age 25-50, and every five years from 50-65. They don't do smear tests on women under 25. It seems in America women have one every year from about the age of 18. Apparently in the UK they don't do them for women under 25 because they have a much higher chance of a false positive on the test, although the cost probably factors into it since here the National Health Service pays for the tests.

In Poland our "National Health service" pays for one Papanicolau every three years (25-30), every two (31-50) and every five (51-up).

Usually first is done when You have some problems, vaginitis etc.

I have an annual Gyne exam, and get a pap smear during the exam. It seems like I have always had a routine pap smear with my annual exam.

From what i am seeing because we don't have a "national health service" in the us we get them done every year. i've never heard of having more false postives because of age. more then likely it's the costs that force some countries to make it every 3 years. from what my doc told me and what test she used due to my lack of insurance it really depends on the place you get it out and what type of test they use

That is one of the drawbacks to a National hHalth Care Plan, they reduce services to reduce costs. I have been told by several Gynecologists that the majority of cervical cancers can be cured if caught early enough, hence the annual pap spear. Women have had a clean bill of health one year, and the next year they are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Three years might be too long between pap smears, especially for women at high risk.

My health plan covers annual exams, papsmears and mammograms 100%. So I go every year, why take chances.

I read an article in one of the british newspapers about a young woman of 24, she was informed by her GP that she was too young for a smear test.........now iv heard of NHS cutbacks but i have never heard of anything as pathetic as that!

Mainly aimed at the ladies here but what else does the doctor do when you have your smear test besides slide the speculum in? I'm interested in both the US and UK experiences mainly

After the Doctor opens the speculum he/she uses some kind of "tool" to either brush or scrape cells from the cervix. The new way is to use a brush with a center that will go into the opening of the cervix and be "twirled" to get cells from the cervix onto the brush. It is then put into a jar with fluid (I don't know what the fluid is) twirled around and the cells deposited into the jar. The jar is then sent to the lab for testing. The old way is to use a small wooden spatula to scrape cells and put them on a glass slide. Spray the slide with something to hold the cells and send the slide to the lab.

Iamurs65,

The 'liquid' you refer to into which the pap 'broom' is swirled is a fixing agent of sorts. It is a proprietary combination of water and chemicals which carry the cervical cells for examination in a lab by the cytologist. The 2 or 3 manufacturers that have similar tests on the market each use their own combination of fixing agents and are distinct from one another. In the lab, the cytologist or a computerized machine will empty the liquid from the test vial through another proprietary membrane/filter which accumulates the cells for examination under a microscope or by automated computer screening.

I was 15 when I got my first pap smear. I had gone in for an exam and birth control and that is when it was done.

Hi Tammy Bush - thanks for your response there. One question - were you expecting the pap smear at that exam, and was it your first pelvic exam as well? Did you know what to expect before you went in?

Yes I was expecting it