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
Most deaths from cervical cancer could be avoided if women had regular Pap tests. A Pap test can find unusual cells before they turn into cancer. Pap tests can also find cervical cancer early, when it can be cured.
Doctors recommend that women ages 21 to 64 have a Pap test every 1 to 3 years.