Get Screened for Cervical Cancer

The Basics: Overview

Getting screened (tested) for cervical cancer means getting tested for a disease before you have any symptoms. Screening tests for cervical cancer include:

• HPV (human papillomavirus) tests, which check cervical cells for infection with certain types of HPV that can cause cancer. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by infection with HPV.
• Pap tests, also called Pap smears, which check cervical cells for changes caused by HPV infection.
• The HPV/Pap cotest, which uses both tests together.

These tests can help find cervical cancer. They can also find cervical cells that are infected with HPV or other abnormal cells before they turn into cancer.

Most cervical cancers can be prevented by regular screenings — and getting the right follow-up treatment when needed.

How often should I get screened for cervical cancer?

How often you need to get screened depends on how old you are and which screening tests you get.

If you’re age 21 to 29 years, get screened with a Pap test every 3 years, starting at age 21.

If you’re age 30 to 65 years, you have 3 options:

• Get screened every 5 years with an HPV test
• Get screened every 3 years with a Pap test
• Get screened every 5 years with an HPV/Pap cotest

Talk with your doctor about which option is right for you. Some people may also need to get screened more often. For example, your doctor may recommend that you get screened more often if you’ve had abnormal test results in the past.

If you’re age 66 years or older, ask your doctor if you need to continue getting screened for cervical cancer. Most people can stop screening after age 65 years if they have been screened regularly and had normal test results.

The Basics: Cervical Cancer

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina.

Abnormal cells in the cervix may become cancer over time if doctors don’t find and remove them.

What causes cervical cancer?

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by certain types of HPV (human papillomavirus) called high-risk HPV. Some other types of HPV, called low-risk HPV, cause genital warts. HPV is the most common infection spread through sex (vaginal, anal, and oral).

In most cases, HPV infections go away on their own without causing cancer. But when they last for a long time, they can cause changes in your cells that become cancer. Get more information on HPV infection.

Learn more about cervical cancer and screening:

• Screening for Cervical Cancer
• HPV and Pap Test Results: Next Steps After an Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Test

The Basics: Cervical Cancer Screening Tests

What happens during cervical cancer screening tests?

Cervical cancer screening tests usually happen as part of a pelvic exam. During this exam, you lie on your back on an exam table, bend your knees, and put your feet into stirrups.

While you lie on the exam table, the doctor or nurse will put a medical tool (called a speculum) into your vagina and open it to see your cervix. The doctor or nurse will use a special brush to collect some cells from your cervix, which are sent to a lab to be checked for the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and/or for abnormal cells.

It takes only a few minutes to collect the cells. It may feel uncomfortable, but it usually doesn't hurt. If you’re not comfortable being alone with the doctor or nurse during the exam, you can ask to have a friend, family member, or another health professional (like another nurse) in the room, too.

Learn more about cervical screening tests:

• HPV tests
• Pap tests

What else happens during a pelvic exam?

Cervical cancer screening is just part of a pelvic exam. During this exam, the doctor or nurse will also check your uterus, ovaries, and other organs.

Take Action: Get Screened

Take these steps to help prevent cervical cancer.

Get ready for your cervical cancer screening test.

Call a doctor’s office or health clinic to schedule your cervical cancer screening test and pelvic exam. Ask your doctor if you need to follow any special instructions before getting a cervical screening test.

Find out your test results.

When you get screened, ask the doctor how you’ll find out the results.

The kind of results you get can vary based on the type of test:

• HPV test results can be “positive,” meaning that high-risk HPV was found, or “negative,” meaning that high-risk HPV was not found.
• Pap test results can be “normal,” which means that no abnormal cervical cells were found (this may also be called “negative for intraepithelial malignancy”), “unsatisfactory,” which means that the sample couldn’t be tested, or “abnormal,” which means that abnormal cells were found.

It can take up to 3 weeks to get your results. If you don’t hear back by then, call your doctor’s office or clinic.

If your HPV test result is “positive” or your Pap test result is “abnormal,” it's important to get the follow-up care your doctor recommends.

Learn more about what your test results mean:

• Understanding HPV test results
• Understanding Pap test results

What about cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans must cover screening for cervical cancer. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get tested at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more.

Medicare may also cover screening for cervical cancer at no cost. If you have Medicare, learn about Medicare coverage for Pap and HPV tests.

If you don't have insurance, find a program near you that offers free or low-cost cervical cancer screening tests.

To learn more, check out these resources:

• Free preventive care for women under the Affordable Care Act
• How the Affordable Care Act protects you
• Understanding your health insurance and how to use it [PDF – 1.9 MB]

Take Action: Lower Your Risk

Get the HPV vaccine.

Children and adults ages 9 to 26 years can get the HPV vaccine. Most people get it as a pre-teen — but if you didn’t get it and you’re age 26 years or younger, talk with your doctor about getting it now.

If you’re age 27 to 45 years and you haven’t gotten the HPV vaccine, talk to your doctor. They can help you decide if the HPV vaccine is right for you.

The vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most commonly cause cervical cancer and several other types of cancer. It also protects against the types of HPV that cause most genital warts. Learn more about the HPV vaccine.

Get your child the HPV vaccine.

All girls and boys need to get the HPV vaccine — usually at age 11 or 12 years, although your child can get it as early as age 9 years. If you have kids, make sure they get the HPV vaccine.

Get your well-woman visit every year.

During your visit, talk to the doctor or nurse about other important screenings and services to help you stay healthy. Find out more about getting your well-woman visit every year.

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