Cervical Cancer Screening – Is There an App for That?

• Well, there is no app on your iPhone, but there is a test your doctor can do to screen for cervical cancer. (See previous blog)

  Remember that your cervix is the doorway between the uterus (the womb) and the vagina (the birth canal). When your doctor does your internal exam, he or she can look at the cervix and use a brush to sample the cervix. There is no similar test like this for the uterus or the ovaries! The test can look for cancer cells and can also check to see if there is a virus called HPV that can cause cervical cancer in the future.

  Who should get a PAP smear?

  1. Women between the ages of 21 and 65 should get this done every 3 years.
  2. Some women may need to have a PAP test done more often if they have HIV, an organ transplant, or have been exposed to a drug called DES.
  3. If your PAP test was not normal, it also may need to be done more often.
  4. If you are over 65, and never had an abnormal PAP test, then you no longer need one.

  The good news is that most women do not need it every year! It is best to talk to your doctor to find out if you should get a PAP test, and how often to get it done.