A Pap smear and STD screening tests Evaluation for contraception, if desired You can use this experience to learn more about your body as well as yourself. Routine pelvic examinations include both an external and an internal exam. A speculum is usually a metal instrument used to hold your vaginal walls apart. The provider will examine your vaginal walls for lesions, inflammation, or unusual discharge, and will also check your cervix for the same. This part of the internal exam is called a Pap smear.
Some women feel a slight cramping when the cells are being gathered.
The collected cervical cells are then sent to a lab to check for abnormal cell growth and to screen for cervical cancer. It's important for women to get an annual gynecological exam. For example, young women, in particular, may be vulnerable to cervical infection since the surface of their cervixes contains relatively immature, less resistant cells. Early detection and treatment can reduce future complications. Alice Your gynecologist or women's health care provider will also ask you some questions, including whether or not you've been sexually active.