Preventing Cancer in Women Starts with a Pap Test
11/14/2025
By Rochelle V. Gonzalez, FNP-BC
For busy women who typically put others’ needs before their own, remember that taking time to care for themselves is important to good health. Regular well-woman exams are a simple and effective way to start.
The principal parts of a well-woman visit are a routine pelvic exam – which checks the uterus, ovaries and other organs to make sure they are healthy – and a Pap test, which screens for certain gynecological cancers. The Pap smear is the primary test for cervical cancer: once one of the most common causes of cancer death among women, today it is one of the easiest cancers to detect and prevent.
What is the Pap test?
This test is used to detect cell changes in the cervix that may later develop into cancer. Because cervical cancer is slow-growing with few symptoms in the early stages, the Pap test is an effective tool in early detection. Usually performed during a pelvic exam, the Pap test collects a few cells from the cervix for examination under a microscope. The test is painless, and takes only seconds to perform. Regular Pap smears monitor any tissue changes in the cervix and can help diagnose potential problems early, when they are most treatable.
Who needs a Pap test?
The Pap test is recommended for all women; however, industry guidelines regarding when to begin Pap tests and how frequently to receive the test have changed. Women are now advised to get their first Pap test at age 21 (previously, the recommendation was to begin having the test tests three years after becoming sexually active, or at age 21, whichever came first.) Once you’ve had your first Pap test, repeat Pap smears should follow these guidelines, issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):
- Women ages 21 to 29 should have a Pap test once every three years. HPV testing alone can be considered for women who are 25 to 29, but Pap tests are preferred.
- Women who have received the HPV vaccine should follow the same schedule and guidelines for Pap smears. Also, women may still need to have screening if they have had a hysterectomy but their cervix was not removed.
- Women age 30 to 65 can choose one of three options: have a Pap test and an HPV test (co-testing) every five years; have a Pap test alone every three years; or have an HPV test alone every five years.
- Women with certain risk factors may need to be screened more frequently as recommended by their provider. These risk factors include HIV; a weakened immune system; exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth; or a history of cervical cancer.
- Women age 65 and up who have had no abnormal Pap smears for 10 years, and three or more negative results, consecutively, may stop getting Pap tests, with the permission of their doctor.
- Women whose cervix has been removed as part of a hysterectomy and have a history of cervical cancer or moderate to severe cervical changes should continue to have screening for 20 years after their surgery. Similarly, women who have no history of cervical cancer or cervical changes after having their cervix removed as part of a hysterectomy do not need screening.
Cervical cancer is most often diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, with the average age being 50. It is important to continue getting a Pap test regularly – even if you think you are too old to have a child, or are not sexually active. It’s equally important to continue annual pelvic exams, regardless of the recommended frequency of Pap tests. Your pelvic exam and Pap test may be performed together, in the same wellness visit, or separately, depending on the frequency of Pap tests that your provider recommends.
Talk to your provider about his or her recommendations regarding HPV and Pap testing, based on your health history. To find a primary care provider, visit https://www.laredophysicianassociates.com/family-medicine-care.
About the Author
Rochelle V. Gonzalez, FNP-BC, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a focus on family medicine. A native of Laredo, Gonzalez earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing and her Master of Science in nursing from Chamberlain University. She has extensive experience in labor and delivery. Gonzalez has a particular interest in women’s health and menopause, including, but not limited to, diabetes, hypertension and hypo/hyperthyroidism.
Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.
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