What is a Pap test?
English Version | French Version




Download Literature | Anatomy of the Cervix

A Pap test is a simple test where a sample of cells is taken from your cervix by your doctor or specially trained nurse and examined under a microscope. In most cases, the cells are normal. In some instances, cells will be abnormal.

These abnormal cells, called cervical dysplasia, are not cancer. In most cases, they will never become cancer. But, if left untreated, these cells could grow and over time, become cancerous. A Pap test will detect cervical dysplasia and alert your health provider BEFORE this has a chance to happen.

A regular Pap test can greatly reduce your risk of cervical cancer. Please download one of the publications below, in the language of your choice.

cover of the bookmark "Every woman should know about Pap tests"
cover of "Pap Tests - Understanding Your Results" brochure

• Download our bookmark "Every woman should know about Pap tests" in:

- English (490K)
- Français (1 MB)
- Amharic (229K)
- Arabic (674 K) New!
- Chinese (667K)
- Cree Roman (647K)
- Cree (658K)
- Dinka (626K)
- Farsi (681K)
- German (607K)
- Hindi (655K)
- Italian (604K)
- Ojibway Roman(674K)
- Polish (599K)
- Portuguese (606K)
- Punjabi (653K)
- Serbo-Croatian (624K)
- Somali (234K) New!
- Spanish (651K)
- Swahili (236K) New!
- Tagalog (601K)
- Ukrainian (623K)
- Urdu (653K)
- Vietnamese (629K)

• Download our 16 page pamphlet "Pap Tests: Understanding your results " in:

- English (5.6 MB)New!
- Français (1.6 MB)New!
- Amharic (1.4 MB) New!
- Chinese (1.7 MB)
- Cree
(1.4 MB)
- German (1.5 MB)
- Hindi (1.6 MB)
- Ojibway
(1.4 MB)
- Polish (1.6 MB)
- Portuguese (1.5 MB)
- Punjabi (1.6 MB)
- Somali (1.4 MB) New!
- Spanish (1.5 MB)
- Swahili (1.2 MB) New!
- Tagalag/Filipino (1.5 MB)
- Vietnamese (1.6 MB)

What is the cervix and where it is located?

The uterus (womb) is made up of two parts. The upper part is the place where a baby grows. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, joining the womb to the vagina. Abnormal cells (cervical dysplasia) may develop at this opening to the womb.

diagram showing fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, cervical