Wait, Can You Get A Pap Smear On Your Period? A Doctor Explains Mostly, it's about your comfort level. Jul 7, 2021 What’s on the calendar this week? Oh, you know, a Pap smear. But wait: Your period tracking app has an important alert. Your flow’s set to, well, flow in three days, just in time for that Pap smear. So what do you do? Can you get a Pap smear on your period? Short answer: It’s actually up to you. However, consider moving your appointment to next week if possible. “If you’re able to schedule around your period, that’s preferable,” says Christine Greves, MD, an ob-gyn at Winne Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. Getting a Pap when you’re not on your period “allows us to get all the cervical cells we need. For some people, their flow can be so heavy that it sometimes means we’re getting cells from blood,” she explains.