Sex, Medicine, the Reproductive System and Language

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Content warning: I’m going to be talking about PAP smears in this article. I’m well aware that not everyone wants to read about this ;).

Regular PAP smears are recommended for anyone who has a cervix, although the frequency depends on your age and whether you are “sexually active” (more on that later).

Absolutely nobody enjoys them. Not the patient, not the provider. They’re unpleasant for everyone, painful for some, but they’re still the best method we have to detect cervical cancer early enough for it to be properly treated.

But after a conversation with my doctor, I came to realize that many health care providers have a “language problem” about pap smears.

Are You Sexually Active?

There’s all kinds of reasons why your doctor might ask this question. When they ask it before giving you a PAP smear, though, they’re planning which size of speculum to use.

It’s easier for them to use a larger speculum, but if you don’t regularly use your vagina, it can be harder (and yes, painful) if they use one. In fact, it can sometimes be impossible.

So, when they ask “Are you sexually active?” they mean “Are you regularly penetrated?”