Pap & Mircette

The Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a screening test used in gynecology to detect premalignant and malignant processes in the ectocervix. Significant changes can be treated, thus preventing cervical cancer. The test was invented by and named after Georgios Papanikolaou, but was also independently invented by Aurel Babeş.

What Is a Pap Test?

A Pap test can find pre-cancerous cell changes of the cervix.

Pap tests are usually part of a regular pelvic exam. During a Pap test, your health care provider inserts a metal or plastic speculum into your vagina. The speculum is opened to separate the walls of the vagina so that the cervix can be seen. The health care provider then uses a small sampler — a spatula or tiny brush — to gently collect cells from the cervix. The cells are sent to the laboratory to be tested.





Mircette® is a low-dose pill, which means that each month you are receiving a lower dose of estrogen versus some of the other birth control pills available. Many women take birth control pills that have 3 weeks of “active pills” and 7 days of placebo or inactive pills. Women who take Mircette® take 1 active pill every day for 3 weeks followed by just 2 days of placebo (inactive) pills and 5 additional days of low-dose estrogen pills.

Taking Mircette® at the same time every day, without missing any pills, is the best way to maximize pregnancy protection and minimize breakthrough bleeding. In fact, Mircette® is ≥99% effective when taken properly.

If you are a Sunday start patient, it is necessary to use another method of birth control as a back-up method if you have sex anytime from the Sunday you start your first pack until the next Sunday (7 days). Condoms, foam, or the sponge are good back-up methods of birth control.

Mircette® and Duramed® are registered trademarks of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ClubCette™ is a trademark of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Duramed is a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.