The Basics
The best thing you can do to prevent cervical cancer is to get regular Pap tests. A Pap test (sometimes called a Pap smear) is a screening test for cervical cancer. It’s done in a doctor’s office or clinic.
You need a Pap test if you are:
- Age 21 or older
- Under 21 and have been sexually active for 3 years or more
Doctors recommend that women ages 21 to 64 have a Pap test every 1-3 years.