Misunderstanding the pap smear

OB/GYN News, Nov 15, 2004 by Mary Ellen Schneider

Few adolescent and young adult women understand the meaning of the term "Pap smear," according to a study published in the October issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. More than two-thirds of participants in a written survey of 141 female patients age 14 and older believed that a pap smear is synonymous with a pelvic exam.

Even among patients with history of sexual activity, only 1 of 77 women understood that a Pap smear was a test for cervical cancer and/or human papillomavirus, and "If young women mistakenly believe that a Pap smear is the same as a pelvic examination, then they may misinterpret the new [American Cancer Society] guidelines, which recommend delaying initiation of Pap smear screening but not gynecologic care in general," the study authors wrote.