What should patients avoid doing 24 hours prior to a Pap smear?

What should patients avoid doing 24 hours prior to a Pap smear?

• A. Eating spicy food
• B. Vaginal intercourse
• C. Drinking alcohol
• D. Using contraceptives

Answer: (B)

Patients should avoid vaginal intercourse 24 hours prior to a Pap smear because it can introduce substances into the vagina that may affect the results of the test. Semen can interfere with the accuracy of the cervical cells being collected during the Pap smear. Additionally, vaginal lubrication or other materials can potentially obscure abnormal cells, leading to misleading results or the need for repeat testing. Other activities, such as eating spicy food, drinking alcohol, or using contraceptives, do not have a significant impact on the results of a Pap smear and are generally acceptable before the procedure. Therefore, abstaining from vaginal intercourse is the most important recommendation to ensure the reliability of the test results.

Patients should avoid vaginal intercourse 24 hours prior to a Pap smear because it can introduce substances into the vagina that may affect the results of the test. Semen can interfere with the accuracy of the cervical cells being collected during the Pap smear. Additionally, vaginal lubrication or other materials can potentially obscure abnormal cells, leading to misleading results or the need for repeat testing.

Other activities, such as eating spicy food, drinking alcohol, or using contraceptives, do not have a significant impact on the results of a Pap smear and are generally acceptable before the procedure. Therefore, abstaining from vaginal intercourse is the most important recommendation to ensure the reliability of the test results.