Despite being the fourth most common cancer in women, cervical cancer is almost always preventable. The key lies in getting regular pap smears.
If you haven’t had it yet, a pap smear is a cervical screening test. It consists of collecting cells from the cervix and examining them for abnormalities. For the test to be accurate, though, you’ll need to follow a few guidelines.
For example, can you have sex before a pap smear? Read on to find out the answer to this question and how to prepare for your appointment.
Can You Have Sex Before a Pap Smear?
As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t have sex before medical tests. The pap smear test is not an exception to this rule.
The reason why this isn’t a good idea is because sex may lead to abnormal results. It can irritate the skin of the cervix, introduce bacteria, and inflame vaginal tissue. Sex can also cause discharges that obscure findings.
Protection methods like condoms solve some of these issues. That said, some condoms are coated with spermicide, which can also affect test results. Plus, even a barrier method like a condom won’t prevent inflammation.
If you’ve had sex within two days before your pap smear, tell your doctor. As long as there isn’t a specific concern about your cervix, the test may go as planned. Of course, this won’t apply if this is your first pap smear.
Oral Sex and Masturbation
As far as pap test guidelines go, you should abstain from sexual activity in general. This includes oral sex and penetrative masturbation.
Though oral sex may be less jarring than penetrative sex, it can still introduce bacteria. As a result, the same rules apply: you should avoid it for at least 48 hours before your pap smear.
Penetrative masturbation (including sex toys) comes with most of the same issues as penetrative sex. Any sort of trauma to the cervix can interfere with the results. Non-penetrative masturbation is fine, however.
Pap Smear Preparation
Beyond sex and masturbation, there are a few other products that can mess with your pap test results. These include:
- Vaginal creams and medicines
- Spermicidal foams and jellies
- Lubricants
- Douches
You should avoid these products for two to three days before your test. If you have your period on the day of the test, call your doctor. Though the sample may still be adequate, it’s usually better to reschedule the test.
Other than that, there’s not much pap smear advice you need to know about. The process itself can be a bit uncomfortable, but it’s not painful. It’s also over fairly quickly, so there’s no reason to worry about it.
Schedule a Pap Smear Today!
So, can you have sex before a pap smear? In general, it’s best to avoid it for 48 hours before your appointment. Read the above guide to learn more about what else you can do to prepare for this test.
Ready to schedule your pap smear? At Women’s Health Associates, we’ve been providing healthcare for women by women since 1995! Contact us here to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services!
