What is the purpose of a Pap smear?

The purpose of a Pap smear is to screen for cervical cancer in women. This procedure involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix to be examined for abnormalities that could indicate the presence of cervical cancer or conditions that may lead to cancer. Regular Pap smears are important because they can detect changes in cervical cells at an early stage when treatment can be more effective in preventing the development of cancer.

While other options relate to important aspects of women's health, they do not describe the specific function of a Pap smear. Testing for infertility would involve different assessments related to reproductive health, detecting sexually transmitted infections calls for different types of testing, and hormonal level assessments require blood tests or other specialized procedures, none of which align with the primary purpose of a Pap smear.