Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

Breast Exams | Pap Smear | Colposcopy

The Breast Exam

During the physical part of the gynecologic exam, you'll be asked to lie on your back on the table. You'll have the paper sheet or gown covering you, and our clinician will only uncover the parts of your body being examined.

A breast exam is performed by lightly pressing on different parts of your breasts. After finishing, she will show you how to examine your own breasts. This helps you become familiar with how your breasts feel so you know which lumps are normal and which may be the result of a change.

The Pap Smear

A Pap smear, which tests for cervical cancer or abnormal cells, is recommended for women who are either age 21 or older or who have had intercourse at least three years earlier. The clinician swabs a sample of cells from the cervix through the vagina. The test is sent to a laboratory and the results come back in a week to two weeks. If the test shows abnormal cells, the clinician might recommend several steps to take including administering an HPV test and/or a procedure called a colposcopy.

Colposcopy

Some patients whose Pap smear results indicate the presence of pre-cancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix may be advised to undergo a colposcopy. (Please note that many women have abnormal pap smears and the cause is not harmful.) A colposcopy allows a clinician to look more closely at the cervix, to determine areas that need sampling. Cells are removed, and a biopsy of the affected area will determine whether close follow-up of future pap smears, further testing, or a LEEP procedure is needed. LEEP removes any pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. Colposcopies are performed at our Beverly and Lawrence health centers once a month and LEEP procedures are performed by an OB/GYN monthly in Beverly.