Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable, yet screening rates remain below target—only about 70% of women in the U.S. are up to date on their Pap tests. Despite their life-saving potential, Pap exams can stir up complex and deeply personal emotions—ranging from fear and shame to anger, anxiety, and even relief. In the emotional domain of Pap smears, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, share clinical and personal experiences that highlight the emotional weight of pelvic exams. From language discomfort to patient modesty, from navigating trauma to delivering HPV results, they explore how these screenings are often shaped as much by emotion as by medical protocol.