What Is A Pap Smear?
Prioritizing your health is an important step toward a long and active life, and getting a Pap smear helps ensure that your reproductive health is in good shape. At UMG Urgent Care in Columbia, MD, our team is compassionate, professional, and ready to help you stay healthy. Pap smears play a key role in women's wellness and are an essential part of screening for cervical cancer. This test helps detect abnormal cervical cells in your cervix, the lower part of the uterus. The goal of a Pap smear is to find any changes in the cervical cells that could lead to cervical cancer. By catching these changes early, treatment can often prevent cervical cancer from developing. Contact our team in Columbia, MD to learn more about Pap smear tests and how they contribute to overall women's health.
How Is A Pap Smear Performed?
At UMG Urgent Care, we ensure that the Pap smear process is as comfortable as possible. During your visit, you'll be asked to lie on an exam table and place your feet in stirrups. A healthcare provider will gently insert a speculum into your vagina to open it slightly. This allows them to see your cervix clearly. A soft brush or spatula is then used to collect a sample of cells from the cervix. The collected cells are sent to a lab for testing for cervical cancer and examined under a microscope for any abnormalities. Typically, Pap smear test results take a few days to a week. Knowing how long Pap smear results take can help you plan for any follow-up testing if an abnormal test result occurs. Our healthcare practitioners will recommend how often you need a Pap smear. Women typically begin this test at age 21 and continue regularly.
What Are the Benefits of A Pap Smear?
A Pap smear is more than just a test — it's a powerful tool for maintaining women's health. Regular Pap smears help catch problems early so they can be treated before they become serious. Our team at UMG Urgent Care in Columbia, MD recommends this important screening to provide the following:
- Early detection of cervical cancer: A Pap smear can identify abnormal cervical cells that may lead to cancer, allowing for early intervention and treatment.
- Monitoring ongoing health: Routine Pap smears help track any changes in your cervical health over time.
- Guidance for next steps: If your Pap smear is abnormal, your healthcare provider will guide you through additional testing or treatment to ensure your health is managed effectively.
- Peace of mind: Knowing that your wellness is being monitored regularly can help reduce anxiety about your cervical health.
- Staying within guidelines: Following Pap smear guidelines ensures that you're taking proactive steps to prevent possible complications and to stay informed about your reproductive health.
UMG Urgent Care Reviews
Visit date: September 4, 2025Office: Clean and quiet. It’s not overstimulating with tv noise or loud patients. Although, I was the only patient in the waiting area.Wait time: I was greeted and immediately attended to. I filled out the standard urgent care forms (online) asking for medical history and insurance information. It took me a little while to complete due to my symptoms and it was a little lengthy. I didn’t keep track of the exact minutes but I was seen immediately after completing the forms.Vitals: The medical assistant that took my vitals was thorough and friendly. Most MA’s skip height and weight and just ask; however this MA checked both.Provider: After the MA’s did a preliminary evaluation, the provider came in. There was barely any wait. She looked my test results, asked me questions and did her own thorough assessment of my current symptoms. She put me at ease, assuring me that my condition wasn’t as bad as initially presumed. I was grateful. Her bedside manners were exceptional. Rare in this field. You can tell she was genuine and truly compassionate about my health. She advised me to go home immediately and to contact her office if I had any concerns about my symptoms.Overall: I am very satisfied and grateful for this staff’s help. This office is about 15-20 minutes from my home but worth the travel all non-emergency medical care. Thank you Nurse Stephanie, APRN.
Excellent experience. Virtually zero wait-time. Extremely competent and understanding professional and office staff. Hands down the best visit I have ever had to any urgent care facility.
What a pleasant surprise! I had to bring my daughter in after the first day of school. We both anticipated a long wait and crowded waiting room. Instead, we were greeted in a modern, new lobby with just one other person. After completing required paperwork, we were taken back quickly to an examination room. The doctor was amazing with my daughter and provided great care with a lovely bedside manner. Overall great customer experience!
Clean, thorough, friendly!
Great experience this weekend with Dr. Stephanie at UMG Urgent Care. She is friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. I really appreciated her kind bedside manner and the hours of the practice are super convenient.
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Protect Your Wellness
Take the next step in protecting your women's wellness by scheduling a Pap smear at UMG Urgent Care in Columbia, MD. Our team is here to answer your questions, guide you through the process, and provide the care you need. Book your appointment today, and stay on top of your health with regular Pap smears.