How Often Should You Get a Pap Smear? Guidelines and More - Healthline
A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a screening procedure that can detect cervical cancer. During a Pap smear, a doctor or practitioner collects cells from the cervix. The cervix is the opening to the uterus, and it is located at the top of the vagina. These cells are sent to a laboratory where they are examined for abnormal changes. For many decades, Pap smears were conducted yearly during annual gynecological exams. Now, however, recommendations from health organizations have changed that timeline. In 2012, the guidelines were updated to suggest people with a cervix could have less frequent tests. It may be as infrequent as every 3 to 5 years. Research suggests there is no advantage to the yearly Pap compared to less frequent testing since cervical cancer's earliest cell changes often take years to develop. Since that significant update in 2012, a few caveats have been added to the guidelines. Several organizations have differing opinions about the right time for a first Pap ...