Cancer Screening (Pap Test)
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have changed the guidelines for when women should start having Pap Tests and how often they are needed.
Pap tests are important to detect certain medical problems. These medical problems include, but are not limited to: cervical cancer, precancerous conditions that may develop into cervical cancer and cancer of other areas (for example, the vagina).
A few women are at low-risk for these medical problems if they:
-have never had sexual intercourse
-have had only one sexual partner
-have never smoked
-have never had genital warts (condyloma)
-have had 3 normal annual Pap Tests in a row
When to Start Having Pap Tests:
-Start having Pap Tests when you are 21 or three years after the first time you had sex (whichever comes first)
-Every year between the ages of 21 and 30
-After 30, every two years if all of your Pap Tests have been normal and you have had one at least three years in a row
Other Things To Consider:
-If you have a problem with your immune system you should get a Pap Test every year
-If you were exposed to DES as a fetus, get a Pap Test every year
-You might not need a Pap Test if you had a hysterectomy (talk to your clinician about this)
If you believe you are at low-risk and would like to have Pap Tests less often than once a year, you must remember that:
-Annual general check-ups are still recommended
-It is your responsibility to remember to come in for your Pap Test at the recommended intervals.
-Your situation(and your risk) could change and you could need more frequent Pap Tests.
This document is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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