"Pap smear or cytologyโcollects cells so they can be
checked for changes caused by the human
papillomavirus, the most common
transmitted infection in the United States." says Jessica Rubin, MD, an OB/GYN with Northwell Health.
โHPV causes almost all cases of said cancer, and youโre not at risk of HPV until youโve been active.
When youโre younger, your immune system is so healthy, youโre more likely to clear the virus on your own,โ notes Rubin.
"Pap tests (or Pap smears) look for cancers and precancers. Precancers are cell
changes that can be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). If not treated, these abnormal
cells could lead to cancer." -Dolly Penn, M.D., M.S.C.R., Medical Officer, Healthcare Assessment Research Branch, Healthcare Delivery Research Program,
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute; and Abbey B. Berenson, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Womenโs Health, Professor of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch