In viewing the vaginal canal and the cervix, the practitioner can look for discoloration, abnormal discharge, lesions, growths and signs of infection. It is possible for you to look at your own cervix during this process by propping yourself up on your elbows and using a mirror. Some practitioners ask if you would like to do this, but feel free to ask to if she doesn't mention it first. It is incredibly enlightening to actually see what your anatomy looks like, and it can clear up a lot of confusion. Next the practitioner will take a pap smear.
Some women feel a slight cramping sensation when their cervix is touched.
The collected cells are smeared onto a slide and sent to a lab for testing and examination. The pap smear is extremely important for picking up abnormalities of the cells in the cervix which may indicate infection or disease. If you are sexually active, the practitioner will then test for STDs. Be sure to ask the person to do them. She or he will swab the inside of the cervix with what looks like a long cotton swab or two.