Pap Smear Test | How Much Does a Pap Smear Cost? (2024)

In This Section

  • Cervical Cancer
  • How do I know if I have cervical cancer?
  • What's a Pap test?
  • What's an HPV test?
  • What is a colposcopy?
  • What happens after my colposcopy?
  • What is cryotherapy?
  • What happens after cryotherapy?
  • What's LEEP?
  • What happens after LEEP?
  • What if I’m diagnosed with cervical cancer?

Pap tests find abnormal cell changes in your cervix. How often you get a Pap test depends on your age, medical history, and the results of your last Pap or HPV tests.

Need a Pap test?

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What happens during a Pap test?

Pap tests, sometimes called Pap smears, are very important tests for finding abnormal cells on your cervix that could lead to cervical cancer. Pap tests find cell changes caused by HPV, but they don't detect HPV itself.

Pap tests may be part of your regular check up, pelvic exam or well-woman exam. During a Pap test, your doctor or nurse puts a metal or plastic speculum into your vagin*. The speculum opens up to separate the walls of your vagin* so that they can get to your cervix. Then they use a small sampler — a tiny spatula or brush — to gently collect cells from your cervix. The cells are sent to a lab to be tested.

Pap Smear Test | How Much Does a Pap Smear Cost? (1)

Pap tests only take a few minutes. They shouldn't hurt, but you might feel some discomfort or pressure when your doctor or nurse opens the speculum inside you. You might also feel a light scratching when they take cells from your cervix.

Do I need a Pap test?

How often you get tested depends on your age, medical history, and the results of your last Pap or HPV tests. In general:

  • If you’re 21–24 years old:you can choose to get a Pap testevery 3 years, or you can wait until you’re 25 years old to start getting tested.

  • If you’re 25–65 years old: get an HPV test every 5 years, or a Pap test and HPV test together (co-testing)every 5 years. In some places where HPV tests are not as available, you may get only a Pap test every 3 years.

  • If you’re older than 65:you may not need HPV/Pap tests anymore.

You may need to get tested more often if you’ve had problems with your cervix before, have a weak immune system, or if your mother took a medicine called DES while she was pregnant with you. Your doctor or nurse will tell you which tests you need and how often you should get them.

What if I have an abnormal Pap test?

If your Pap test results are abnormal, don’t panic. It's pretty common to have unclear or abnormal Pap test results. Most of the time, it doesn’t mean that you have cervical cancer.

  • An unclear test result means that your cervical cells look like they could be abnormal. But it isn’t clear if it’s related to HPV or something else. Unclear results are also called equivocal, inconclusive, or ASC-US.

  • An abnormal Pap test result means that there are abnormal cell changes on your cervix. This doesn’t mean that you definitely have cervical cancer. The changes may be minor (low-grade) or serious (high-grade). The more serious changes are often called precancerous because they aren’t cancer yet but can turn into it over time.

If you have an unclear or abnormal Pap test result, you made need further tests and/or treatment including:

  • Another Pap test

  • An HPV test: a test that looks for high-risk types of the virus that can cause precancerous cells

  • A colposcopy: a special exam to look more closely at your cervix to see if there are precancerous cells.

If your doctor finds abnormal cells during your colposcopy, you’ll probably need treatment. Common treatments include cryotherapy and LEEP.

Where can I go for a Pap test?

You can get a Pap test at your doctor or nurse’s office, a community health clinic, the health department, or your local Planned Parenthood health center.

More questions from patients:

What does a negative Pap test result mean? And what does a positive Pap test result mean?

Pap tests find abnormal cell changes in your cervix. Having a negative Pap test means that you don’t have abnormal cell changes in your cervix. Having a positive Pap test means that you do have abnormal cells in your cervix and your nurse or doctor may recommend a follow-up Pap test, a HPV test, or a colposcopy.

Can you get a pap test while you’re on your period?

You can get a Pap test during your period. Your nurse or doctor may suggest scheduling the test for a time when you aren’t expecting your period because it can interfere with the results if you’re having any unexpected discharge. You'll still be able to have your test even if you are on your period though — no matter how light or heavy your flow is.

Is a Pap test part of routine prenatal care?

Your nurse or doctor will give you an HPV and/or Pap test at your first prenatal appointment if you’re due for one.

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Pap Smear Test | How Much Does a Pap Smear Cost? (2024)

FAQs

Pap Smear Test | How Much Does a Pap Smear Cost? ›

If your health insurance plan does not cover a Pap Smear test, you will have to pay between $25 to $40. A liquid-based Pap test will cost you between $45 to $60.

How much does a Pap smear cost? ›

For screening cervical cancer, the Pap smear test remains the most practical, accessible and affordable tool. Early-stage detection gives a higher chance of curing it. The price of a in the Philippines has an average cost of PHP 500, while government health facilities offer cheaper tests for PHP 120.

How much is it to do a Pap smear? ›

for Pap smear (liquid-based cytology LBC) is R280, HPV test 1100. STDs screening costs are broken down on the STDs page here.

How much is a Pap smear in the US? ›

TABLE 1.
Procedure/testEstimated cost, US
Office visit (diagnostic)$65
Pap test$37
HPV test$49
Colposcopy$395
2 more rows

Do you have to pay for a Pap smear? ›

The Cervical Screening Test is free for many eligible women aged 25 to 74.

How much does smear test cost? ›

The smear test costs £94 plus a standard 30-minute appointment fee with a GP or £190 for a nurse appointment.

Is a Pap test expensive? ›

The PAP Smear Test cost varies INR 500 to INR 2000 by region and facility. So constantly get tested at trustworthy diagnostic centers like Ganesh Diagnostic.

Should I be charged for a Pap smear? ›

Your well woman visit itself should have been covered at no cost to you, as should have any of the following you might have received: screening for sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer screening (pap smear), pelvic exam, and contraceptives and related counseling.

Is smear test free? ›

CervicalCheck offers free cervical screening to all women aged 25 to 65 years. You can choose which registered doctor or nurse to attend. You may change your choice of doctor or nurse for subsequent CervicalCheck screening.

Is Pap smear included in insurance? ›

The 2023 survey shows 41% of American women are not up to date on cervical cancer screenings. This indicates an urgent need to discuss the cost of cervical cancer screening, as many people may be unaware cervical cancer screenings are covered through Medicaid and most private insurance plans.

How much should you get a Pap smear? ›

Talk to your health-care provider about how often you need to get a Pap test or a Pap and HPV test. Most women can follow these current recommendations from the USPSTF: Women ages 21-29 should get a Pap smear every three years. Even if you are sexually active you don't need a Pap test before age 21.

Are Pap smears free in the US? ›

Low-Cost and Free Pap Smear Clinics

Local county health departments and women's clinics offer free and low-cost Pap smears. For the uninsured, the cost of the test is often based on income level. Your local Planned Parenthood may also offer low-cost Pap smears.

How long do Pap smear results take? ›

Pap smear results. The test results usually take 1–3 weeks to come back. Most test results are negative, but they can sometimes be positive. A positive result does not confirm that a person has cancer, but it indicates that more investigation is necessary.

Can I say no to a Pap smear? ›

You can probably skip the Pap smear if: You've had a total hysterectomy (since your cervix will have been removed) You're over 65 and your last three tests were negative.

How is a Pap smear billed? ›

If the patient presents for a preventive medicine service, the pelvic exam is part of the age and gender appropriate physical exam, as described by CPT® codes in the 99381—99397 series of codes. However, for a screening pap, the HCPCS code for obtaining the screening pap smear, Q0091 may be used.

Can I do my own Pap smear? ›

Yes, it's accurate

Evidence shows a Cervical Screening Test using a self-collected sample from your vagin* is just as accurate at detecting HPV as a clinician-collected sample taken from the cervix during a speculum examination.

What age should you get a Pap smear? ›

If you are age 21 or older, you should start cervical cancer screening, even if you are not yet sexually active. There is no need to screen younger than 21. If you are younger than 30, you can likely be tested for cervical cancer every 3 years if your Pap test results are normal.

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