The major guidelines changed just over 10 years ago, and then again in 2022.
For decades afterward, doctors recommended an annual Pap test.
Discussing a Pap test is incomplete without mentioning HPV, the human papillomavirus.
In most cases, HPV doesn’t cause cancer, but a high-risk version can.
Although women 25 to 29 can start taking the HPV test alone, doctors prefer the Pap test instead.
Every five years, women aged 30 to 65 can take a Pap test and an HPV test.
Or they can take only a Pap test every three years.
Option three: get the HPV test alone every five years or co-test with both.
According to theCDC, 10% of women infected by HPV are at higher risk for cervical cancer.
Are there any exceptions?
However, there is some current research that sayscervical cancer screenings are still pivotal for women over 65.
For younger women, you should increase how often you get a Pap smear under certain conditions.
Check with your doctor to be sure of what’s right for you.
What happens during an exam?
Both the Pap smear and the HPV test are given the exact same way.
You’ll feel pressure, not pain, and the speculum might feel cold if it’s steel.
