What exactly does the doctor do during the Pap test? Will it be painful?
Although a pelvic exam can be uncomfortable, the Pap test is not painful. It only takes a few seconds, and is it will be performed as part of your pelvic exam. You will lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet apart. Your doctor will insert a speculum into the vagina. The speculum is a tool that holds open the walls of the vagina so your cervix can be seen. The doctor will use a small, soft brush to take a few cells from the cervix. The cells will be sent to a lab for testing.
