Cervical Cancer Screening and Me

Cervical Cancer Screening and Me

Cervical Cancer Screening and Me

Even though I am young,
or I am a virgin,
or I have had the HPV vaccine,
I may need regular Cervical Cancer Screening.

Even though I have only had sex once,
or I am not having sex now,
or I have not had sex for years,
I may need regular Cervical Cancer Screening.

Even though I have only had one sex partner,
or only same sex partners,
I may need regular Cervical Cancer Screening.

Even though I have had a partial hysterectomy,
or a total hysterectomy,
or a cancer-related hysterectomy,
I may need regular Cervical Cancer Screening.

Even though I have stopped having children
or been through menopause,
I may need regular Cervical Cancer Screening until
I am 65 years of age, younger or older.

It may therefore be in my best interest to
choose to check what’s-what for me.

Meno Martha


Umbrella

What may the Cervical Cancer Screening and Me Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this umbrella may include:

  • Cervical Cancer Screening
  • Cervical Screening Test
  • Pap Smear
  • Pap Smear Test
  • Pap Test
  • Smear Test

Start. Frequency. Stop.

Can when to start, the frequency and when to stop cervical cancer screening, vary?

Yes. Depending on You (DoY), DotS and/or Depending on Your Country’s (DoYC’s) cervical cancer screening program, when to start, the frequency and when to stop Pap tests, can vary. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to check what’s-what for you.

Young

What if I am young, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

DoY, DotS and/or DoYC’s  cervical cancer screening program, when you start having regular Pap tests can vary. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to check what’s-what for you in your country.

For the United States, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) note in Cervical Cancer Screening: When To Get Screened for Cervical Cancer – Age 21-29 Years:

“If you are in this age group, USPSTF recommends getting your first Pap test at age 21, followed by Pap testing every 3 years. Even if you are sexually active, you do not need a Pap test before age 21”.1

What is USPSTF?

USPSTF can be an abbreviation for the United States Preventative Services Task Force.

Virgin

What if I am a virgin, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In Pap Smear: Do I Need One If I’m A Virgin? the (United Sates) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Yes. Doctors recommend routine cervical cancer screening, regardless of your sexual history. Tests used to screen for cervical cancer include the Pap test and the HPV test. Your doctor can help you understand whether one or both of these tests is best for you”.2

HPV Vaccine

What if I have had the HPV vaccine, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In Cervical Cancer: Can You Screen for Cervical Cancer? HPV Vaccine the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health note:

“If you have been vaccinated for HPV, it’s still important to get regular cervical screening tests. While the HPV vaccine is highly effective, it doesn’t prevent all HPV infections”.3

Not Sexually Active

What if I am no longer sexually active, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In When Should I Be Screened for Cervical Cancer? Our Recommendation the Canadian Cancer Society note:

“It’s important to keep getting screened for cervical cancer regularly, even if you’re not sexually active anymore or if you’ve had an HPV vaccine”.4

Different Differences

What if I have different differences, do I need cervical cancer screening?

In Who Should Get A Cervical Screening Test? Should You Have A Cervical Screening Test? the (Australian) National Cervical Screening Program explain:

“It makes no difference if you:

  • Are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or straight
  • Have had the HPV vaccination or not
  • Are no longer sexually active
  • Have been through menopause
  • Have been with only one sexual partner
  • Have had a baby
  • Are pregnant (ensure to let your health care professional know)”.5

LGBTQI+

What if I am LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex+) do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening: Who Should Follow This Guideline?, dated 04 December 2025, the American Cancer Society (ACS) include:

“This guideline applies to you even if:

  • You’re in a long-term relationship with the same partner, you’ve stopped having children, you don’t have sex with men, or you’re not sexually active. While HPV is most often transmitted through sex, HPV infections that cause cervical cancer can sometimes appear decades after you were first exposed”.6

Stopped Having Children

What if I have stopped having children, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer the ACS includes:

“This guideline applies to you even if:

  • You’re in a long-term relationship with the same partner, you’ve stopped having children, you don’t have sex with men, or you’re not sexually active”.7

Menopause

What if I am in menopause, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer the ACS note:

“This guideline applies to you even if:

  • You’re in menopause. Cervical cancer risk increases with age, so it’s very important to keep screening through at least age 65 even if your periods have stopped”.8

Partial Hysterectomy

What if I have had a partial hysterectomy, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In Who Should Get A Cervical Screening Test? Should You Have A Cervical Screening Test? the National Cervical Screening Program explain:

“If you have had a full or partial hysterectomy, please check with your doctor about screening”.9

Total Hysterectomy

What if I have had a total hysterectomy, do I need regular cervical cancer screening?

In Hysterectomy: I’ve Had A Hysterectomy. Do I Still Need To Have Pap Tests? the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov explain:

“Maybe. You will still need regular Pap tests (or Pap smear) to screen for cervical cancer if you:

  • Did not have your cervix removed.
  • Had a hysterectomy because of cancer or precancer.

Ask your doctor what is best for you and how often you should have Pap tests”.10

Diethylstilbestrol

What if my mother took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) while she was pregnant with me, do I need cervical cancer screening?

In Cervical Cancer Screening: When To Get Screened for Cervical Cancer – Exceptions To the Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines the NCI include:

“Your health care provider may recommend more frequent screening if you…

  • You were exposed before birth to a medicine called diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was prescribed to some pregnant women through the mid 1970s”.11

High Risk

What if I need more regular cervical cancer screening?

In The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening: Who May Need A Different Screening Plan? the ACS include:

“You might need a different screening plan, such as being screened more often, if you are at higher risk of cervical cancer.

You may be at increased risk if:

  • You’ve had previous abnormal screening test results or cervical precancer
  • You’ve had cervical cancer in the past
  • You’re at higher risk for cervical cancer because you have a weakened immune system. This could be from an organ or stem cell (bone marrow) transplant, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a medicine you take that weakens your immune system, or some other cause
  • You were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth

If any of these apply to you, talk to your health care provider about the best screening plan”.12

HPV Test

What is a HPV test?

In The HPV Test the ACS elaborate on:

“Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by long-lasting infection with some high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Doctors can test for the high-risk HPV types by looking for pieces of their DNA in cervical cells. This is known as an HPV test”.13

Stop

Can when to stop cervical cancer screening, vary?

Yes. Depending on You (DoY), DotS and/or Depending on Your Country’s (DoYC’s) cervical cancer screening program, when to stop Pap tests, can vary. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to check what’s-what for you.

In Pap Smear: Why It’s Done the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Recommendations for cervical cancer screening may depend on your age: …

  • After age 65: Consider stopping cervical cancer screening after discussing your health history and risk factors with your healthcare professional. If your cervical cancer screening tests haven’t found anything that’s not typical, you may choose to stop the screening tests”.14

Health Care Provider

What if I am unsure whether I still need cervical cancer screening?

In Pap Smear: Why It’s Done the Mayo Clinic also note:

“You and your healthcare professional can discuss the benefits and risks of Pap tests and decide what’s best for you”.15

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Cervical Cancer Screening and Me?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Cervical Cancer Screening and Me?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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  71. Human Papillomavirus (HPV): About HPV
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  80. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Black Women Need To Be Screened for Cervical Cancer [+ Video Courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network]
  81. National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) [United States]
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted:

Sources

  1. Cervical Cancer Screening: When To Get Screened for Cervical Cancer – Age 21-29 Years. Updated: 13 February 2025. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/pap-hpv-testing-fact-sheet#q4 Accessed: 08 May 2026
  2. Pap Smear: Do I Need One If I’m A Virgin? 04 May 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pap-smear/expert-answers/pap-smear/faq-20057782 Accessed: 08 May 2026
  3. Cervical Cancer: Can You Screen for Cervical Cancer? HPV Vaccine. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/gynaecological-cancers-jean-hailes/cervical-cancer/ Accessed: 08 May 2026
  4. When Should I Be Screened for Cervical Cancer? Our Recommendation. Canadian Cancer Society https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/find-cancer-early/get-screened-for-cervical-cancer/when-should-i-be-screened-for-cervical-cancer Accessed: 08 May 2026
  5. Who Should Get A Cervical Screening Test? Should You Have A Cervical Screening Test? Date Last Updated: 13 March 2026. National Cervical Screening Program https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/national-cervical-screening-program/getting-a-cervical-screening-test/who-should-get-a-cervical-screening-test Accessed: 08 May 2026
  6. The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening. Last Revised: 04 December 2025. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html Accessed: 08 May 2026
  7. The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening. Last Revised: 04 December 2025. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html Accessed: 08 May 2026
  8. The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening. Last Revised: 04 December 2025. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html Accessed: 08 May 2026
  9. Who Should Get A Cervical Screening Test? Should You Have A Cervical Screening Test? Date Last Updated: 13 March 2026. National Cervical Screening Program https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/national-cervical-screening-program/getting-a-cervical-screening-test/who-should-get-a-cervical-screening-test Accessed: 08 May 2026
  10. Hysterectomy: I’ve Had A Hysterectomy. Do I Still Need To Have Pap Tests? Page Last Updated: 27 February 2025.  Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/hysterectomy?from=AtoZ Accessed: 08 May 2026
  11. Cervical Cancer Screening: Cervical Cancer Screening: When To Get Screened for Cervical Cancer – Exceptions To the Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines. Updated: 13 February 2025. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/pap-hpv-testing-fact-sheet#q4 Accessed: 08 May 2026
  12. The American Cancer Society Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening: Who May Need A Different Screening Plan? Last Revised: 04 December 2025. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html Accessed: 08 May 2026
  13. The HPV Test. Last Revised: 04 December 2025. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/screening-tests/hpv-test.html Accessed: 08 May 2026
  14. Pap Smear: Why It’s Done. 20 July 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pap-smear/about/pac-20394841 Accessed: 08 May 2026
  15. Pap Smear: Why It’s Done. 20 July 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pap-smear/about/pac-20394841 Accessed: 08 May 2026
Topic Last Updated: 08 May 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 08 May 2026

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