--- title: What to Expect at a Pap Smear description: A Pap smear is an important screening tool for cervical cancer. Here's what happens during the exam. canonical: https://time.com/7034621/pap-smear-what-to-expect/ author: Chantelle Lee article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-10-03T20:17:49.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-24T18:23:13.152Z article:section: Health og:title: What to Expect at a Pap Smear og:description: It's an important screening tool for cervical cancer. og:url: https://time.com/7034621/pap-smear-what-to-expect/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta2cafef91cee82ed/698a602cb21a9c1ac350b00d/Pap-Smear.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2121 og:image:height: 1193 og:image:alt: Gynecological examination kit and anatomical uterus model on pink background, flat lay og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What to Expect at a Pap Smear twitter:description: It's an important screening tool for cervical cancer. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta2cafef91cee82ed/698a602cb21a9c1ac350b00d/Pap-Smear.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What to Expect at a Pap Smear > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=de1804c6-95f7-486e-828b-a741ca70384d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | Subscribers | Open rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | 540,000 | 45.6% | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 430,000 | 50.7% | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | 240,000 | 54.1% | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 40,000 | 31.7% | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | 85,000 | 37.0% | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | 40,000 | 34.2% | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | 25,000 | 28.6% | Source: TIME, August 2026. Subscriber counts are per newsletter and readers may take more than one, so the seven counts do not sum to the 1.1 million+ unique newsletter audience. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Highest open rate | 54.1%, Health Matters | TIME, August 2026 | | Largest list | 540,000, The Brief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=de1804c6-95f7-486e-828b-a741ca70384d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=de1804c6-95f7-486e-828b-a741ca70384d&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Reporter Oct 3, 2024 8:17 PM UTC  A Pap smear involves a medical provider inserting a speculum into the vagina, then swabbing the cervix before sending the sample to a lab. A Pap smear involves a medical provider inserting a speculum into the vagina, then swabbing the cervix before sending the sample to a lab. Getty Images by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Reporter Oct 3, 2024 8:17 PM UTC Maybe you had a bad experience with your last Pap smear and you’re wary of going back to the ob-gyn. Or maybe you’ve never had one before and are scared to make the appointment. It’s understandable to feel anxiety about women’s health care, but a Pap smear is an important screening tool for cervical cancer. “A lot of people feel really nervous or anxious to get a Pap smear, and some people aren’t quite sure of exactly what we’re testing for,” says Dr. Jayme Trevino, an ob-gyn and fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). “One of my goals when a patient is coming to me for a Pap test is to thoroughly explain exactly what we’re looking for and the steps of the process.” Here, two ob-gyns explain what a Pap smear entails and dispel some common misconceptions about the potentially life-saving test. ## What is a Pap smear? A Pap smear [involves](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4267-pap-smear) collecting a sample from the cervix to test for abnormal cells that are cancerous or could lead to cervical cancer. The procedure typically only lasts for a minute, if that. Your medical provider will insert a speculum into your vagina, and then swab a sample from your cervix. Cervical cancer grows slowly, says Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, an ob-gyn in Portland, Ore. The earlier you can catch precancerous cells, the faster you and your medical provider can come up with a plan to treat them and prevent them from turning into cancer. **Read More**: [_What to Expect at a Mammogram_](https://time.com/7027180/what-to-expect-mammogram-breast-cancer-screening/) People often confuse the procedure with a human papillomavirus (HPV) test or a pelvic exam. While an HPV test involves the same steps as a Pap smear—a speculum and a swab of the cervix—the lab tests specifically for strains of HPV, which can also lead to cervical cancer. A pelvic exam, meanwhile, is when a medical provider checks the uterus, cervix, and other parts of the reproductive system by using their fingers and hands or a speculum. “The biggest misconception is that people think any time they’re having a speculum placed in their vagina, that that is a Pap smear,” says Lincoln, who previously made a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf%5FaCVcLJF4) demonstrating the different procedures. “It’s really important for people to know that a Pap smear is a procedure where we are getting a little brushing or a sample of cervical cells in order to see if they look abnormal—either that they are cervical cancer or they could potentially become cervical cancer. It’s a very specific test.” ## How often should you get one? Generally speaking, you should start getting regular Pap smears at age 21, according to ACOG’s [guidelines](https://www.acog.org/womens-health/infographics/cervical-cancer-screening). That’s a better guideline to follow than when you first become sexually active, experts say, even though the latter date might be sooner, because the [chances](https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/why-annual-pap-smears-are-history-but-routine-ob-gyn-visits-are-not) of someone under the age of 21 getting cervical cancer is so small. How frequently you should go for a Pap smear after that depends on your age and risk factors. But typically, you should get the screening done every three years between ages 21 and 29, according to ACOG’s guidelines. Between the ages of 30 and 65, you can choose one of three options: get a Pap smear and an HPV test every five years, get a Pap test alone every three years, or get an HPV test alone every five years. **Read More**: [_What to Expect at a Colonoscopy_](https://time.com/7009176/colonoscopy-prep-procedure/) If you’re 65 or older, you may not need to get regular Pap smears anymore if you have no history of cervical changes and have tested negative on three Pap smears in a row, two HPV tests in a row, or two HPV andPap tests in a row within the past 10 years, according to ACOG. ## Does it hurt? While a Pap smear can be uncomfortable, it should not hurt. “If a Pap smear is hurting, that’s a sign that something is not right,” Lincoln says. It could be how the test is being performed—for instance, if it’s not being done in a gentle manner or if you’re clenching because you’re not sure what to expect from the test—or it could be a sign of an underlying condition, such as a pelvic floor dysfunction issue or vaginal dryness, according to Lincoln. “It should feel like pressure; it can feel uncomfortable for a couple of minutes, but if it’s causing acute pain, it is absolutely okay to say, ‘Stop, this hurts.’ And they should absolutely stop and then try to figure out what’s going on,” Lincoln says. “You’re not supposed to be crying or in pain.” ## What happens afterward? It’s possible that you may experience cramping or some spotting after the procedure, according to Lincoln. But heavy bleeding is not normal, she says. The test results typically take a couple of days. Lincoln recommends asking your provider how you’ll be getting the results back—if your provider will call you to walk you through the results or if you’ll be getting them electronically, for instance—because it can vary depending on your provider and their office. **Read More**: [_IVF Changed America. But Its Future Is Under Threat_](https://time.com/7005892/ivf-under-attack-fetal-personhood/) If the results come back normal, all is well. If they come back unsatisfactory, it may mean you need to come back in for another Pap smear because the sample didn’t provide enough cells for the test. If the results are abnormal, don’t panic—most of the time that doesn’t mean you have cervical cancer. Talk to your provider about what the results mean for you. Depending on your risk factors and the types of cells detected—minor or serious ones—your provider might recommend coming in for additional tests, like a [colposcopy](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4044-colposcopy), which is when a medical provider inserts a speculum into your vagina and uses a magnifying instrument to get a better look at your cervix. ## Talk to your doctor in advance While Lincoln and Trevino understand why people may feel anxious or wary of getting a Pap smear—“It’s not super fun,” Lincoln acknowledges—they both emphasize the importance of the test. “I always encourage my patients to feel really empowered, especially during the exam, to let me know what’s going on and if they need me to stop,” Trevino says. Both doctors say there are ways to make yourself feel at ease during a Pap smear—whether that’s bringing someone to the appointment with you for support, listening to music, or taking ibuprofen an hour or so before the exam to help avoid cramps. Lincoln and Trevino also encourage people to talk to their provider about what the test entails so they can be informed before getting the procedure done. “I just wish more people knew that for the vast majority of people, getting a Pap smear is not painful,” Lincoln says. “We fear the unknown. So being informed about what to expect, I think, is huge.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7034621/pap-smear-what-to-expect/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7034621/pap-smear-what-to-expect/"},"headline":"What to Expect at a Pap Smear","datePublished":"2024-10-03T20:17:49.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-24T18:23:13.152Z","description":"It's an important screening tool for cervical cancer.","url":"https://time.com/7034621/pap-smear-what-to-expect/","keywords":["Reproductive Health","Evergreen","healthscienceclimate"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta2cafef91cee82ed/698a602cb21a9c1ac350b00d/Pap-Smear.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Chantelle Lee","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta2cafef91cee82ed/698a602cb21a9c1ac350b00d/Pap-Smear.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Gynecological examination kit and anatomical uterus model on pink background, flat lay","caption":"Gynecological examination kit and anatomical uterus model on pink background, flat lay","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/reproductive-health/","name":"Reproductive Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7034621/pap-smear-what-to-expect/","name":"What to Expect at a Pap Smear"}}]}] ```