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For a long time, the Pap smear has been a lifesaving screening tool for cervical cancer.

But it's recently become the subject of debate on social media, with many users asking if the test is worth the discomfort. Indeed, the percentage of women who have never had a cervical cancer screening has been rising for years; a recent study found that nearly one in three women between 21 and 29 in the U.S.—about 6.2 million women—has never been screened.

During a Pap smear, an instrument called a speculum is inserted into the vagina. Then, the health care provider takes samples of the cervical cells using a small stick called a spatula and a soft brush. Those cells are then examined for signs of cancer. Some people may experience discomfort, sometimes pain, during their Pap smear.

But Blair McNamara, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Yale School of Medicine, says it's essential for women to get a Pap smear.

"The whole goal of Pap smears is to prevent cervical cancer, which women used to die from in large numbers in the U.S., and unfortunately still do globally, especially in countries where Pap smear programs are less prevalent," McNamara said.

In an interview, McNamara explains the stigma surrounding Pap smears, their role in detecting cervical cancer, and ways to make the test more comfortable.

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