If you're a female, you will want to take the time to get an annual exam. This will allow you to work towards having the health you want over time. It's ideal to get a pap smear to enable you to find any minor issues before these become larger ones. This is a cancer screening that is typically done once a year. Many women deal with some anxiety before getting this one and being aware of some tips to assist you before your next exam can be helpful.

Tip #1:  Avoid intercourse

In order to get the best results from your pap test, you will want to avoid having sex at least a day beforehand. Failing to do this could cause you to get inaccurate results, and this is the last thing you will want to do.

Tip #2:  Take deep breaths

One thing you will want to do is to take deep breaths before getting your pap smear. This can help keep your body relaxed and the more you can do this the less discomfort you may experience.

Tip #3: Don't go swimming

You may want to put off having fun in the pool until you don't have a pap smear scheduled. It's important to avoid swimming before having this routine test completed to prevent inaccurate results from occurring.

Tip #4: Take ibuprofen

It's important to work to minimize your discomfort as much as possible. One way for you to achieve this goal is by taking ibuprofen before you head out to your appointment.

Doing this may allow you to avoid feeling any pain at all and this is ideal for helping you through this important routine testing.

Tip #5: Communicate with your provider

You will want to provide your medical history if this is a first-time visit with a new medical provider. Be sure to let this individual know about any issues you may have had in the past, such as problems with previous testing.

Taking time to identify your concerns and ask any questions can help you get the most out of your appointment. It's a great idea to make a list of thing if you think you may get too nervous when you're in the office.

Working to take the best possible care of your health is important. One way to assist you with doing so is getting a pap smear done. Be sure to consult with services like Advanced OB-GYN Services to schedule your next visit today.