The Pap Smear Test was invented by a husband and wife

Geogious Papanikolaou with the help of wife Mary invented the Papanicolaou test (commonly known as the Pap Smear Test) around 1927, but it wasn't until1948 that women started getting Pap Smear Tests.

His wife was very instrumental in helping him with his research. She was given an award for her part.

Every day, for the next 21 years (starting around 1927. So that was 7,665 times), Mary patiently agreed to climb up onto an examination couch and have her vaginal fluid sampled and smeared. Slowly Papanicolaou began to establish that, just like guinea pigs, it certainly was possible to see a change throughout a monthly cycle.

After some time, however, Papanicolaou began to wish for more subjects to compare his results. So Mary asked some friends over for a party (the first Pap Smear Party), and they too agreed to be sampled. Some weeks later, one of these women was diagnosed with cervical cancer. On hearing this news, Papanicolaou went back and examined her smear, taking it to be seen by another cytologist at Cornell. Together they discovered that cancerous cells were indeed visible on the smear.

This discovery allowed him further access and trials on patients. It confirmed that the pap smear could not only identify cancerous cells, but precancerous ones as well.

By the mid 1940s the technique was developed to the point where its widespread application was feasible. Papanicolaou began training people in the technique and eventually published a book on cytology in 1954.

He died of heart failure on Febuary 19, 1962, having only recently moved to Florida to direct a Cancer Institute which was post-humously renamed in his honour.

Thanks to his work, thousands and thousands of women are alive today.

However I think at least some of the credit should go to Mary Papanicolaou who worked as his assistant and for 21 years bravely submitted herself to a pap smear. She died in Miami in October 1982. Without her forbearance, Georgios Papanicolaou would have stalled before he started.

Go to Wikipedia and type Georgios Papanikolaou into the search window.

This is a touching story. It reminds me of a similar one of a Count Vladimir Von Douchebag who did a very similar thing and changed the way women looked at hygiene. Both these men were true pioneers who along with their wives will go down in history.

Aw @Moppys_jalopy I liked the post.

Thank you @Dr_Kinky for taking the time to post this. 🌹 Now I know more about how it began and how much work it took to help us out. 😃

You are welcome @Ms_Lila

I would like to think that it was this husband scientist that invented the phrase "Please scoot down closer to the edge of the table for me." Lol 😃 However, the phrase was probably spoken a long time ago when women were going through childbirth or when being visually inspected internally down there.

At 7,665 Pap Smears over a 21 year time frame, she has a record that won't be beat, since most women only get a real Pap Smear 1 time per year and in extreme cases 2 times a year. It would have been interesting to have been a fly in the wall during some of those times. Some of us may be envious of them (whereas, some would say "Ouch!, I'm getting sore just thinking about it").

Her husband may of douched her out so that a lot of semen wouldn't show up on the microscope slides. God knows what kind of sex life they had.

Imagine the fact that she had a party so she could invite her friends over for a Pap Smear test.

What a superb article thank you ! I am a retired tec and have the greatest regards to the inventory and his wife .

Thank you again.

After some time, however, Papanicolaou began to wish for more subjects to compare his results. So Mary asked some friends over for a party (the first Pap Smear Party), and they too agreed to be sampled.

The first pap smear party? That implies there were more, possibly many more? Is this a thing, "Pap Smear Parties"? How have I never heard of this!?

-g

That guy pioneered what is a live saving test. Well done to him

@Dr Kinky

I would love to see the reference for your first post where you stated:

After some time, however, Papanicolaou began to wish for more subjects to compare his results. So Mary asked some friends over for a party (the first Pap Smear Party), and they too agreed to be sampled. Some weeks later, one of these women was diagnosed with cervical cancer. On hearing this news, Papanicolaou went back and examined her smear, taking it to be seen by another cytologist at Cornell. Together they discovered that cancerous cells were indeed visible on the smear.

Thank you!

Anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit of, "Lord and Lady Douche bag?"

Yes, that's how I came up with my post.