Taking care of yourself also means taking preventive measures to ensure that any serious issues are dealt with as quickly as possible. One important measure that all women will need in their lives is a Pap smear. Pap smears help test for cervical cancer at an early stage. The earlier it is caught, the easier it typically is to treat. Pap smears are incredibly important to women’s healthcare and it’s important to know if you’re due for one.
The Importance of Pap Smears
Every woman will need a Pap smear multiple times throughout their life. A pap smear ensures that any sign of cervical cancer is detected at an early stage and is then treated immediately. Pap smears typically start around the age of 21 and are done every 3 years until you reach 65. If you get your results back and they’re abnormal, you’ll need another test done in a year.
Often, a Pap smear is done at the same time as a pelvic exam. If you have certain risk factors, you may need Pap smears more frequently. This could be an abnormal test, an HIV infection, if you have a history of smoking, or a weakened immune system.
Pap smears can stop if you’ve had a total hysterectomy or if you are over the age of 65 and you’ve routinely had negative cervical cancer tests in the past. If you’re older and have multiple sexual partners, you may want to consider continuing with Pap smears to ensure that you’re lowering your risk of dealing with cervical cancer.
Contact Your OBGYN Today
Find out if you’re due for your next Pap smear. Contact your OBGYN to learn more about Pap smears and if you are in need of one today. Pap smears are incredibly important to your health and can help increase your chances of catching cervical cancer at the earliest possible stage.