How often should I have cervical cancer screening and which tests should I have?
How often you should have cervical cancer screening and which tests you should have depend on your age and health history:
- Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended.
- Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and an HPV test (co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It also is acceptable to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.
When should I stop having cervical cancer screening?
You should stop having cervical cancer screening after age 65 years if
- you do not have a history of moderate or severe abnormal cervical cells or cervical cancer, and
- you have had either three negative Pap test results in a row or two negative co-test results in a row within the past
10 years, with the most recent test performed within the past 5 years.
If I have had a hysterectomy, do I still need cervical cancer screening?
If you have had a hysterectomy, you still may need screening. The decision is based on whether your cervix was removed, why the hysterectomy was needed, and whether you have a history of moderate or severe cervical cell changes or cervical cancer. Even if your cervix is removed at the time of hysterectomy, cervical cells can still be present at the top of the vagina. If you have a history of cervical cancer or cervical cell changes, you should continue to have screening for 20 years after the time of your surgery.