Have a Cervix? This Is How Often to Get a Cervical Cancer Screening

Whether you’re working up the courage to get your first Pap smear or you’ve just had your 10th visit, you know that it’s an important — albeit mildly awkward — part of a woman’s health routine.

A Pap smear can save your life. Cervical cancer is known as the “silent killer,” since it often shows no symptoms. Getting screened is the only way to know your cervical cancer status. If cervical cancer is caught early, the chance for successful treatment is very high. Pap smears can also detect abnormal cells that may lead to cervical cancer. These precancers can be removed before they turn into cervical cancer.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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