General Gynecology · Treatment
Pap Smear and HPV Test in Seoul: Cervical Screening Explained
A Pap smear is a five-minute test in which cells are brushed from the cervix and examined for precancerous changes; combined with an HPV test (co-testing) it detects nearly all cervical cancer risk years before cancer develops. At Somssi Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Dr. Yoon Ho-joo performs Pap and HPV testing in English, explains your result in plain language, arranges colposcopy if needed and offers Gardasil 9 vaccination.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD, OB/GYN specialist, Somssi Women's Clinic · Last updated October 2026
At a glance
Key facts
The essentials, based on how Somssi Women's Clinic performs this procedure or answers this question. Your plan is confirmed at consultation.
- Test time: about 5 minutes within a 15–20 minute visit
- Anesthesia: none needed; mild pressure or brief cramping only
- Results: usually within about 1–2 weeks
- Recommended interval: Pap every 3 years from 21; Pap plus HPV co-test every 5 years from 30 (or HPV alone every 5 years)
- Korea's national program: free cervical screening every 2 years from age 20 for women covered by National Health Insurance
- Before the test: avoid intercourse, tampons, douching and vaginal medicines for 48 hours; not during heavy bleeding
- Prevention: Gardasil 9 (ages 9–55; 3 doses over 6 months) available at the clinic
Pap smear and HPV test at a glance
A five-minute cervical screening test; with an HPV co-test it detects cervical cancer risk years ahead.
- Pap smear Korea
- HPV test Seoul
- cervical screening foreigners
- cervical cancer screening
- co-testing
- English-speaking gynecologist Seoul
- About 5 minTest time
- 1–2 weeksResults
- Every 3–5 yearsInterval
- Gardasil 9Prevention
- PrepareNo intercourse, tampons or douching for 48 hours.
- Brush the cervixQuick, with mild pressure only.
- Lab testingCytology and HPV.
- Next stepsColposcopy only if needed.
Illustration: Somssi Women's Clinic, Seoul. Schematic, not to scale; your plan is set by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo after examination.
What is a Pap smear?
A Pap smear (cervical cytology) collects cells from the surface of the cervix and the canal leading into the uterus with a soft brush. A laboratory examines them for the abnormal changes that persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause. Those changes, called dysplasia or CIN, usually take 10 years or more to become cancer, which is why regular screening prevents most cervical cancers rather than just detecting them.
An HPV test looks for the virus itself, specifically the high-risk types such as 16 and 18 that cause more than 70% of cervical cancers. Doing both on the same sample is called co-testing and is the most sensitive routine approach for women aged 30 and over.
Somssi Women's Clinic is a surgical gynecology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, founded in 2000 and led by Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD. Alongside its specialist surgery, the clinic offers routine screening, HPV vaccination and follow-up of abnormal results for English-speaking women living in or visiting Korea.
Who should be screened, and how often?
| Age | Recommended screening | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 21 | No routine screening | HPV is common and almost always clears at this age; vaccination is the priority |
| 21–29 | Pap smear every 3 years | HPV testing alone is not recommended for routine screening in this group |
| 30–65 | Pap plus HPV co-test every 5 years, or HPV test alone every 5 years, or Pap alone every 3 years | Co-testing is the usual choice at the clinic |
| Over 65 | Screening can stop after adequate normal results | Three consecutive normal Paps or two normal co-tests in the past 10 years, and no history of CIN2 or worse in the past 25 years |
| After hysterectomy | Usually not needed if the cervix was removed for a benign reason | Continue if the cervix remains or there was prior high-grade dysplasia |
Korea's National Cancer Screening Program offers a free Pap test every two years from age 20 to women enrolled in National Health Insurance, including foreign residents; the clinic can tell you whether you are eligible in a given year. Women with HIV, a weakened immune system, exposure to DES before birth or a previous abnormal result need more frequent screening, which Dr. Yoon will schedule individually. Vaccinated women still need screening, because the vaccine does not cover every high-risk type.
What happens at the visit
You undress from the waist down and lie on the examination couch. Dr. Yoon gently inserts a speculum to see the cervix, takes a sample with a small brush, and places it in liquid for the laboratory. The test takes about five minutes; most women feel pressure and perhaps a brief cramp. The same sample is used for the HPV test, so no second procedure is needed. A pelvic ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries can be added if you have symptoms or are due for a general check.
Preparing for your Pap smear
- Book for a day when you are not bleeding heavily; light spotting is fine with liquid-based cytology
- Avoid intercourse, tampons, douching, vaginal creams or spermicides for 48 hours beforehand
- Tell us about pregnancy, previous abnormal results, HPV vaccination and any bleeding after sex or between periods
- Bring your passport or ARC and, if you have one, your Korean health insurance card
Understanding your result
Results usually return within one to two weeks and are explained in plain English. The common categories are:
| Result | Meaning | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Normal (NILM), HPV negative | No abnormal cells, no high-risk virus | Repeat in 3–5 years depending on age and test |
| Normal Pap, HPV positive | Virus present but no cell changes yet | Repeat co-test in 1 year, or colposcopy if type 16/18 |
| ASC-US | Slightly atypical cells of uncertain significance | HPV test decides: repeat in 3 years if negative, colposcopy if positive |
| LSIL | Low-grade changes, usually from active HPV infection | Colposcopy, or repeat in 1 year in some younger women |
| ASC-H or HSIL | Possible or definite high-grade precancerous changes | Colposcopy and biopsy; treatment if confirmed |
| AGC | Atypical glandular cells | Colposcopy with sampling of the cervical canal and, over 35, the uterine lining |
An abnormal Pap is not a cancer diagnosis. Most low-grade changes clear on their own within two years, and high-grade changes are treated with a short procedure such as a LEEP or cone biopsy that removes the affected area and preserves fertility. Colposcopy, a magnified examination of the cervix with biopsies of any suspicious areas, is performed at the clinic; chronic cervicitis identified during examination can also be treated.
HPV vaccination and prevention
Gardasil 9 protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58, covering the types behind most cervical cancers and genital warts. It is licensed for ages 9–55, works best before first sexual contact, and still benefits adults who have not met every type. The clinic gives it as three intramuscular injections in the upper arm over six months. Not smoking and using condoms also lower the risk of persistent HPV infection. If you have ever had genital warts, staying up to date with screening is especially important.
Results and what to expect
Regular screening reduces the chance of developing cervical cancer by well over 80%. No test is perfect: a single Pap smear misses some abnormalities, which is why repeating at the recommended interval, and adding HPV testing after 30, matters more than any one result. Results vary with sampling, timing in the cycle and laboratory interpretation, so we may ask you to repeat a test that was unsatisfactory.
Risks and discomfort
- Brief cramping or pressure during sampling
- Light spotting for a day afterward, which is normal
- False reassurance or false alarm: a small proportion of results are falsely normal or falsely abnormal, managed by following the interval and the follow-up pathway
- Anxiety while waiting for results; we explain what each category means before you leave
Screening does not test for other infections. If you have a new partner, discharge or pelvic pain, consider adding an STI screen to the same visit.
Why international patients choose Somssi
Expatriates often lose track of screening when they move countries, and many Korean clinics report results only in Korean. Somssi Women's Clinic provides English-language consultation, written results you can take to your next doctor abroad, and a single specialist who handles screening, colposcopy and vaccination. It is 100 m from Gangnam Station Exit 1, has been registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare for foreign patients since 2011 and is a Seoul Medical Tourism cooperation clinic.
Screening fits easily into a lunch hour and can be combined with a general check, contraception advice or pregnancy checkups. See our gynecological care overview, our international patients page, or contact the clinic to book.
Private consultation
Talk it through with Dr. Yoon's team
English-speaking coordinators, a written treatment plan and a clear quote after your consultation. Same-day discharge for most procedures.
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 09:30–18:00 (KST). Closed Thu, Sun and holidays. 7F Sangkyung Building, 120 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Dr. Yoon Ho-joo, MD, PhD
OB/GYN specialist, Catholic University of Korea. Founder of Somssi Women's Clinic (2000). Published on female sexual function after reconstructive vaginal surgery; speaker at ESSM, ISSWSH, WAS and SMSNA.
Questions patients ask
Frequently asked questions
Short, honest answers. For anything personal, a consultation is the right place to ask.
Does a Pap smear hurt?
Most women feel pressure from the speculum and a brief cramp or scratching sensation when the brush turns, lasting a few seconds. It should not be painful; tell Dr. Yoon if you are tense, have vaginal dryness or have had a difficult examination before, as a smaller speculum and a slower approach help. Light spotting afterward is normal.
How often do I need a Pap smear in Korea?
Korea's national program offers a free Pap every two years from age 20 for women with National Health Insurance. International guidelines accept every three years for Pap alone, or every five years with HPV co-testing from 30. Which schedule you follow depends on your history and whether you use the national program; we help you choose and remind you when you are due.
What does an HPV-positive result mean?
It means a high-risk HPV type was found on your cervix. HPV is extremely common; most infections are cleared by the immune system within two years and cause no harm. A positive test with a normal Pap usually just means a repeat in a year. If type 16 or 18 is found, or the Pap is abnormal, colposcopy is arranged to look more closely.
Can I have a Pap smear during my period?
Light bleeding is acceptable with modern liquid-based tests, but heavy flow can obscure cells and make the sample unsatisfactory. If possible, book for a day when bleeding is light or absent. If you are already at the clinic for another reason, we can still often take the sample.
Do I still need screening if I had the HPV vaccine?
Yes. Gardasil 9 covers the types responsible for about 90% of cervical cancers, but not all of them, and it does not clear infections acquired before vaccination. Vaccinated women follow the same screening schedule as everyone else. Vaccination plus screening together give the strongest protection.
How long do results take and how will I receive them?
Results usually come back within one to two weeks. We contact you by your preferred method and explain the result in English, including what, if anything, needs to happen next. Written reports are provided for your records or for a doctor in another country. If a follow-up colposcopy is needed, it can usually be done at the clinic within days.
Keep reading
Related treatments and guides
- STI & STD Screening — infections a Pap smear does not detect, tested from the same visit
- Genital Wart Removal — low-risk HPV and why wart patients should stay up to date with screening
- IUD Insertion and Removal — contraception that can be arranged at the same appointment
- Menopause Treatments — screening and cervical health after menopause
- Gynecological Care — the clinic's everyday gynecology services in English
- Pregnancy Checkups — screening and ultrasound during pregnancy
- International Patients — English results and reports you can take abroad
Sources and medical review
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), cervical cancer screening and prevention guidance
- World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer and HPV fact sheets
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV vaccination recommendations
Next step
A consultation first. A decision only when you are ready.
Tell us what you are experiencing and what you hope to change. Dr. Yoon examines, measures and explains the options, including when no surgery is the right answer. International patients can start with an online consultation before travelling to Seoul.
