Cervical cancer is one of the deadliest cancers affecting women. Detecting cervical cancer in the early stages helps in its complete cure. Screening for cervical cancer is done through a Pap smear test. Pap smear test should also be done before planning conception as it will rule out the presence of cancer. Pap test is one of the important tests for any woman. Read on to know more about Pap test.Prior to planning pregnancy, it is important to conduct a Pap test as it can make you aware whether you stand cervical cancer or are already suffering from the same. For this it is necessary to know what goes on this Pap test. It is basically the screening of the cervical area or the opening of the uterus of the woman for the presence of cancerous cells, pre-cancerous cellular changes, any inflammatory conditions along with the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases. The test is conducted at a clinic and at certain intervals. It is usually once before pregnancy that the Pap test is done and repeated before another pregnancy if the doctor observes certain potential changes in the cervix during examination. The importance of the test lies in the fact that the abnormal cervical cells and infections if any can be detected early and accordingly the treatment can be devised. Otherwise there can be chances that the pregnancy can get terminated mid way and the health of the baby might get affected. Why is the Pap Test Important? This is also known as the Pap smear, which is a medical procedure. A sample or a collection of cells are made from the end of the uterus that conjoins the vagina, alternatively known as the cervical area. This sample is then spread or smeared atop a microscopic slide. These cells are studied under powerful microscopic lens as the pathologist searches for malignant and pre-malignant cells. They also look for the abnormal structural changes in the cells which can be potential for cancerous development in near future. The Pap test is a very painless procedure and is very simple and quick too. It has two facets to it: Specificity and Sensitivity. The former entails that the test can effectively classify a normal smear from an abnormal one and its differentiation is rather perfect. But then there is a chance for error too, when there are actually cases where an abnormal smear is not really detected by the Pap test. This means that the abnormality is present but went undetected. This is thus the reason why few women are detected with cervical cancer in spite obtaining a positive Pap screening. But still its importance lies in the fact that the test can detect even the minor cellular abnormalities prior to them even display any malignant characteristics. This makes it easier for the doctor to judge and control the situation and prescribe appropriate treatment for the mother so that she can successfully conceive and give birth to a healthy baby. There is a vital point to note, Pap test can only cervical cancer. But cancer also occurs in the vagina, ovary and uterus of women and Pap test does not play any role in determining them. But they can be well discovered during the pelvic exam which is usually prescribed and performed during the Pap test. How is the Pap Test Done? The test takes a couple of minutes where the woman is required to lie on an examination table on her back. She is asked to bend her knees and her feet are placed on metal stirrups that are joined at the end of the table. The doctor then inserts a tiny device called a speculum inside the vagina as she or he examines the cervix. The sample is collected with the help of a thin brush or spatula. The sample is placed on a slide or bottle and sent to the laboratory for testing.