子宮頸位於子宮的底部，連接子宮和陰道。子宮頸細胞檢驗(又稱為柏氏抹片，以1920年代發明此技術的Dr. George Papanicolaou命名)是一快捷而簡單的測試，可以檢測到子宮頸細胞的不正常病變，如不加理會的話，這些病變可能發展成癌症。

在子宮頸癌出現之前，子宮頸內會形成不正常的細胞。如果不加以處理，在五至十年間，這些癌症前期的細胞可能改變，而且變成子宮頸癌。出現癌症前期病變的女性沒有任何症狀。子宮頸癌普查的目的是希望透過檢測及早處理這些異常情況以預防子宮頸癌。癌症前期病變的治療率接近百分百。

篩檢測試
子宮頸細胞檢驗是檢測子宮頸早期不正常病變的測試。若發現這類病變，便可以在癌症形成之前加以治療。子宮頸細胞檢驗不是診斷子宮頸癌的測試。這種測試須要定期進行，用於沒有陰道症狀的人士當中以偵測早期細胞病變。大約90%的子宮頸細胞檢驗結果是正常的。如果在子宮頸細胞檢驗上發現不正常的細胞，便需要作進一步測試以確定有關病變是否嚴重。一般來說，婦女只需要接受簡單的門診治療便可以阻止癌症形成。這階段的治療通常較簡單而且成功率也較高。如果這些早期的細胞病變不加處理，它們可能會發展成癌症。在檢查測試時發現的異常情況不可作準，有關婦女必須經由診斷測試以確定子宮頸是否有病變。

檢驗的過程檢驗前的準備
當你有月經時應避免接受子宮頸細胞檢驗測試。在測試前的48小時內，你應該避免灌洗陰道、使用殺精藥、陰道塞藥和性交，因為這樣可能隱藏或沖走不正常的細胞。如果發現不尋常的陰道分泌，應該先看醫生及治理好陰道感染才接受子宮頸細胞檢驗。

檢驗的過程
在接受檢查之前，你可能需要回答一些關於你健康狀況和生活方式的問題。參與子宮頸普查計劃的醫生和護士會徵求你的同意，把你的個人資料和檢驗結果載入由衞生署管理的子宮頸普查資訊系統的資料庫。

子宮頸細胞檢驗是一項非常安全的測試，過程只需幾分鐘。醫生或護士會將一件工具（名為窺器）放入你的陰道內，以便清楚看見位於陰道深處的子宮頸。之後會透過窺器，用一個木製的小刮棒或塑膠刷子於子宮頸的表面抽取一些細胞樣本。細胞樣本會被塗抹在玻璃薄片上，或轉到一瓶液體內以便保存。然後，醫生或護士會抽出窺器，檢查亦已完成。樣本會被送到化驗室，在顯微鏡下進行測試。

有時侯，醫生也可能在進行子宮頸細胞檢驗後為你檢查陰道。這項檢查有助發現你的生殖器官的異常情況。

在子宮頸細胞檢查期間，如果你能放鬆，你應該不會感到痛楚。但有些女性可能會感到輕微不舒服，可以慢慢地深呼吸來減輕不適。如果你在檢查期間覺得非常不舒服，應告訴醫生或護士及要求停止檢驗。

The cervix is located at the bottom of the uterus, connecting the uterus and vagina. Cervical smear (also known as Pap smear, named after Dr. George Papanicolaou , who invented this technique in the 1920s) is a quick and simple test that can detect abnormal cervical cell lesions.

Before cervical cancer appears, abnormal cells will form in the cervix. If left untreated, within five to ten years, these pre-cancerous cells may change and become cervical cancer. The purpose of cervical cancer screening is to treat these abnormalities early through testing detection to prevent cervical cancer. The treatment rate of precancerous lesions is close to 100%.

The test

Cervical smear is a test to detect abnormal early lesions of the cervix. If such lesions are found, they can be treated before the cancer develops. If abnormal cells are found on the cervical smear, further tests are needed to determine whether the disease is serious.

Preparation

Avoid cell testing when you are menstruating. In the 48 hours before the test, you should avoid vaginal lavage, spermicide, vaginal plugs, and sexual intercourse, as this may hide or wash away abnormal cells. If you find unusual vaginal secretions, you should first see a doctor and treat the vaginal infection before undergoing a cervical smear.

The process

Before being tested, you may need to answer some questions about your health and lifestyle.

Cervical smear is a very safe test, the process only takes a few minutes. The doctor or nurse will put a tool (called a speculum) into your vagina. After that, a small plastic brush will be used to take some cell samples on the surface of the cervix. The cell sample is transferred to a bottle of liquid for storage. Then, the doctor or nurse will remove the speculum, and the examination is complete. The samples will be sent to the laboratory for testing under a microscope. HPV DNA screening test can also be done with the sample.