The TW FHT is now offering Pap Clinics at our Bathurst site, led by our nursing team. (Stay tuned for launch at our Garrison Creek site this Fall 2024).
You can book online or call the clinic.
How to book an appointment:
Who should have a Pap test?
The Ontario Cervical Cancer Screening Program recommends that anyone with a cervix who is or ever has been sexually active should have a Pap test done every 3 years starting at age 25.
What to expect
Your Pap test is done by a nurse who has specialized training, in a clinic exam room. Once you are ready, the healthcare provider will come into the exam room and ask questions about your health history. They will explain what happens during the procedure and answer any questions you may have.
We are a teaching facility and a medical resident may be involved in your care.
You will be asked to lie on your back on an examining table and place your feet on the foot rests. During the procedure your healthcare provider:
Inserts a speculum into the vagina. You may feel a bit of pressure.
Uses a small brush to gently collect cells from your cervix.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Pap test?
A Pap test is a preventative screening test for cervical cancer that helps diagnose precancerous conditions and cervical cancer. A Pap test can help prevent cervical cancer. It is the most effective tool we have to reduce cervical cancer.
It does not test for other cancers in the reproductive organs or for sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or HIV. For more information about Pap tests, click here.
Are there any risks to getting a Pap test?
Pap tests are very safe. You could experience light bleeding afterward, but you should not feel pain or cramping. Let your healthcare provider know if you feel discomfort lasting more than a few minutes or if the bleeding lasts longer than 24 hours.
Does a Pap test hurt?
A Pap test may feel uncomfortable but typically should not hurt.
What about the results and follow-up?
Your test results will be sent directly to your primary care provider. Tests results are usually available after 7-10 days but may take as long as three weeks. If your test results are abnormal we will contact you to make an appointment with your primary care provider.
You will also receive a letter directly from Cancer Care Ontario informing you of your test results.
Why are Pap tests needed?
A Pap test looks for abnormal cells in the cervix. Cervical cells can become abnormal when a person has a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Abnormal cells often return to normal on their own. But if they do not, they need to be found and, if necessary, treated. Otherwise, slowly over a number of years, they may become cervical cancer.
Who should have a Pap test?
Currently, the Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends that anyone with a cervix (women, transmasculine and nonbinary people) who is or has ever been sexually active have a Pap test every 3 years starting at age 25.
If you are under 25, talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about whether you should start cervical screening with the Pap test. Sexual activity is having sex with another person or touching another person’s genitals (private parts) with your mouth or hand.
The risk of getting cancer of the cervix does not decrease with age. Pap tests should be a part of your regular healthcare until you are at least 70 years old. Pap tests can stop at the age of 70 if you have had 3 or more normal tests in the previous 10 years. If you have had a hysterectomy, talk to your doctor to see if you still need a Pap test.
What happens after a Pap test?
We will contact you if you have an abnormal test result. The Ontario Cervical Screening Program will also send you a letter telling you whether your test result is normal, abnormal or unsatisfactory and provide you with the next steps.
Most often, your Pap test result will be normal. If your result is abnormal, it does not mean you have cervical cancer. But you will need to talk to your doctor about the next steps, such as a repeat Pap test in a few months. You may also have to see a specialist for more tests if needed.
How often should you have your test done?
You should have a Pap test every 3 years. If you develop abnormal cells, your cervical screening plan will change.
How do I find out when my last Pap test was done ?
You can find out when your last Pap test was done through myuhn.ca. First, sign into myuhn.ca then click on "Your Menu" on the top left corner. Scroll down the menu and click on Ontario Lab Results (OLIS). Under 'Results & Reports' you will need to change the date range. You must select a date range that is less than 1 year. Your Pap test result will be found under the following name: Papanicolaou Smear Liquid Based. Click on 'More details' to view your Pap test results.