Cervical Cancer Screening

At the time of menopause, all women should be told about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer. Women should report any unexpected bleeding or spotting to their doctor. Some women — because of their history — may need to consider having a yearly endometrial biopsy.

• Cervical cancer screening (testing) should begin at age 21. Women younger than age 21 who are sexually active should follow their doctor’s guidelines.
• Women between ages 21 and 29 should have a Pap test every three years. There also is a test called the HPV test. HPV testing should not be used in this age group unless it is needed after an abnormal Pap test result.
• Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test and an HPV test (called “co-testing”) every five years. This is the preferred approach, but it is also OK to have a Pap test alone every three years.
• Women older than age 65 who have had regular cervical cancer testing with normal results should not be tested for cervical cancer. Once testing is stopped, it should not be started again. Women with a history of a serious cervical pre-cancer should continue to be tested for at least 20 years after that diagnosis, even if testing continues past age 65.
• A woman who has had her uterus removed (and also her cervix) for reasons not related to cervical cancer, and who has no history of cervical cancer or serious pre-cancer should not be tested.
• A woman who has been vaccinated against HPV should still follow the screening recommendations for her age group. Because of some women’s health history, they may need to have a different screening schedule for cervical cancer.