Cervical Cancer Screening

“The goal of screening for cervical cancer is to find
precancerous cervical cell changes, when
treatment can prevent cervical cancer from developing”.1

Umbrella

What may the Cervical Cancer Screening Umbrella include?

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

  • Cervical Cancer Early Detection
  • Cervical Cancer Screening
  • Cervical Screening
  • HPV Screening
  • Pap Smear
  • Pap Smear Test
  • Pap Test
  • Smear Test

Definition

What is cervical cancer screening?

Dots the definition of cervical cancer screening may Vary. The (United States) National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) definition is:

“The goal of screening for cervical cancer is to find precancerous cervical cell changes, when treatment can prevent cervical cancer from developing. Sometimes, cancer is found during cervical screening. Cervical cancer found at an early stage is usually easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cervical cancer may have begun to spread, making treatment more difficult”.2

Screening Tests

What are cervical cancer screening tests?

In Cervical Cancer: Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging – Screening Tests for Cervical Cancer the American Cancer Society elaborate on:

“The tests for cervical cancer screening are the HPV test and the Pap test. These tests can be done alone or at the same time (called a co-test) and are done during a pelvic exam”.3

In Cervical Cancer: Screening for Cervical Cancer – Screening Tests the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain:

“The HPV test and the Pap test can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early.

  • The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause cell changes on the cervix
  • The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.

Both tests can be done in a doctor’s office or clinic”.4

In Cervical Cancer Screening: What Is Cervical Cancer Screening? the NCI elaborate on:

“There are three main ways to screen for cervical cancer:

  • The human papillomavirus (HPV) test checks cells for infection with high-risk HPV types that can cause cervical cancer
  • The Pap test (also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology) collects cervical cells so they can be checked for changes caused by HPV that may—if left untreated—turn into cervical cancer. It can find precancerous cells and cervical cancer cells. A Pap test also sometimes finds conditions that are not cancer, such as infection or inflammation
  • The HPV/Pap cotest uses an HPV test and Pap test together to check for both high-risk HPV and cervical cell changes”.5

Start. Frequency. Stop

Can when to start, the frequency and when to stop Pap tests, vary?

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

 

Screening Program

Where may women find information about cervical cancer screening or early detection programs?

Women may find information about cervical cancer screening or early detection programs from their health care provider or their country’s equivalent of a local community health center or a national and/or state Department/Center/Institute of Aging/Cancer/Disease Control and Prevention/Health/Human Services.

Your country may have a program similar to Australia’s, the United Kingdom’s or the United States’ cervical cancer screening or early detection programs.

Screening Program Example

What is the United States’ cervical cancer screening program?

In National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP): Find A Screening Program Near You the CDC explain:

“CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to women who have low incomes and are uninsured or underinsured”.6

Health Care Provider

When may women stop having regular Pap tests?

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

In Pap Smear: Who Can Consider Stopping Pap Smears? the (United States) Mayo Clinic note:

“You and your healthcare professional can discuss the benefits and risks of Pap tests and decide what’s best for you”.7

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Cervical Cancer Screening?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Update

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  27. Cervical Cancer [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
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  32. Cervical Cancer: Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging – Screening Tests for Cervical Cancer
  33. Cervical Cancer: Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging – Screening Tests for Cervical Cancer: The HPV Test
  34. Cervical Cancer: Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging – Screening Tests for Cervical Cancer: The Pap (Papanicolaou) Test
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  42. Cervical Cancer: What Are the Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer? Lack of Regular Cervical Screening Tests
  43. Cervicalcancerpreventionweek.com: Cervical Screening Misconceptions [+ Video] [20-26 January 2025, United Kingdom]
  44. Cervicalcancerpreventionweek.com: Cervical Screening Misconceptions – What Is Cervical Screening? [+ Video] [20-26 January 2025, United Kingdom]
  45. Cervical Health Awareness Month [January, United States]
    Cervical Cancer Screening
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  78. Is It Time for Your Screen Test? [+ Video]
  79. Mayo Clinic Minute: Cervical Cancer Screening [+ Video Courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network]
  80. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Black Women Need To Be Screened for Cervical Cancer [+ Video Courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network]
  81. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Cervical Cancer and HPV Screening
  82. National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) [United States]
  83. National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) [United States]: Find A Screening Program Near You
  84. National Cervical Cancer Coalition
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  92. Tips for Screening Trans and Non Binary Patients
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  95. (VIDEO) Improving Cervical Cancer Screening With HPV Self-Collection Tests [+ Video Courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network]
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. HPV and Pap Testing: What Is Cervical Cancer Screening? Reviewed: 17 May 2024. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/pap-hpv-testing-fact-sheet#q2 Accessed: 21 January 2025
  2. HPV and Pap Testing: What Is Cervical Cancer Screening? Reviewed: 17 May 2024. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/pap-hpv-testing-fact-sheet#q2 Accessed: 21 January 2025
  3. Cervical Cancer: Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging – Screening Tests for Cervical Cancer. Last Revised: 13 January 2023. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/screening-tests.html Accessed: 21 January 2025
  4. Cervical Cancer: Screening for Cervical Cancer: Screening Tests. 11 December 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cervical-cancer/screening/ Accessed: 21 January 2025
  5. Cervical Cancer Screening: What Is Cervical Cancer Screening? Updated: 17 May 2024. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/cervical/Patient/page3 Accessed: 21 January 2025
  6. National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP): Find A Screening Program Near You. 19 December 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cervical-cancer-screening/about/screenings.html Accessed: 21 January 2025
  7. Pap Smear: Why It’s Done. 20 July 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pap-smear/about/pac-20394841 Accessed: 21 January 2025
Topic Last Updated: 12 May 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 21 January 2025

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