How to Prepare for an Anal Pap Smear

Men who have sex with men should have an annual (or more frequently if your health care provider recommends it) anal pap smear. The procedure is painless, takes only a few minutes and can detect the early signs of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to anal cancer. In fact, the fairly new HPR vaccine for females only—Gardasil—is now being aggressively studied for safety and use in men. This article will tell you how to prepare for an anal pap smear.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A good relationship with your health care provider
• A list of any concerns

1. Call your health care provider and ask if they know how to perform an anal pap smear (it is very easy, but does require some clinical education for your provider). If they do not know, you need to find a clinician that does. Contact the Gay and Lesbian Medial Association for possible providers in your area.
2. Refrain from any receptive intercourse at least 24 hours before your pap smear. This will prevent cells from being displaced.
3. Refrain from using any anal sex toys.
4. Do not douche. It is only normal to want your anal area to be "clean" for your health care provider, but douching may lead to cell displacement and provide a false negative result.

Tips & Warnings

• Anal sex between men who have sex with men and men who have sex with women is a normal sexual activity. There is no shame in this sexual practice.
• This article is for informational purposes only. You need to see your health care provider for any diagnosis or treatment.