5
Age 21-29 years
Get your first Pap test at age 21 and
have Pap testing every 3 years. Even
if you are already sexually active,
Pap tests are not recommended
until age 21, according to USPSTF
recommendations.
Age 30-65 years
Get an HPV test every 5 years, an
HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years, or a
Pap test every 3 years, according to
USPSTF recommendations.
The American Cancer Society
recommends HPV tests every 5 years,
starting at age 25. Screening with an
HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years or a Pap
test every 3 years is also acceptable.
Older than 65 years
If you are in this age group you
should talk with your health care
provider to learn if screening is still
needed. If you have been screened
regularly and had normal test results,
your health care provider will probably
advise that you no longer need
screening. However, if your recent
test results were abnormal or you
have not been screened regularly,
you need to continue screening
beyond age 65.
For more information about screening
guidelines, visit: www.cancer.gov/ucc.
Exceptions to
the guidelines
Talk with your health care provider about whether
you need a personalized screening plan.
Certain health conditions
More frequent screening may be recommended
if you:
●
are HIV positive
●
have a weakened immune system
●
were exposed before birth to a medicine
called diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was
prescribed to some pregnant women
through the mid-1970s
●
had a recent abnormal cervical screening
test or biopsy result
●
have had cervical cancer
Hysterectomy
Screening recommendations are based on your
personal medical history, including the type of
hysterectomy you may have had:
●
Partial hysterectomy or supracervical
hysterectomy: If you had an operation to
remove your uterus but not your cervix,
you should continue routine cervical
cancer screening.
●
Total hysterectomy: If you had an operation
to remove both your uterus and cervix for
reasons not related to cancer or abnormal
cervical cells, you do not need to be
screened for cervical cancer.
●
Hysterectomy: If you had any type of
hysterectomy related to cervical cancer
or precancer, talk with your health care
provider to learn what follow-up care
you need, based on your specific
medical history.