[drjulie]

"That wouldn't be a reason for having a pap smear. A pap smear's just a routine test for cervical cancer, or pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix. Nothing to do with VD."

That's correct, although I believe most cervical precancers are caused by HPV which is transmitted sexually. So it can be, in a sense, an STD (to be politically correct!). Sometimes "pap smear" is used as a general term for all predelivery checks. For instance, you don't want anyone delivering vaginally with active herpes. I don't think it means anything necessarily - these checks are done on a routine basis.

[Devil_Anse]

I know, Drj, but they don't check for herpes with a pap smear! I really think, if they did a pap smear, they just did it for the usual reasons--to check the status of the cervical cells.

Yes, I guess that "human papilloma virus" is transmitted sexually, and I guess that is one of the main causes of precancerous cells on the cervix... and maybe, of cervical cancer?

Maybe it was just time for her yearly pap smear!

I don't think it means anything necessarily - these checks are done on a routine basis.

I agree with you!

[Yaelle]

I had a Pap smear while pregnant too. Once that year rolls around, pregnant or not, doctors will take advantage of the frequent appointments and get it done. They like each patient to have one a year.