A pap smear typically takes less than five minutes to complete, but those minutes could save your life – or the life of any woman you love.

Approximately 660,000 women across the globe are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Cervical cancer is highly preventable, yet many women remain at risk due to missed screenings, lack of information, or both.

TopLine MD Alliance supports proactive women’s health care through early detection and routine screenings. With many OB/GYNs and primary care providers in our network offering pap smears, HPV testing, and vaccinations, TopLine MD Alliance helps women make informed decisions about their health and connects them with providers they can trust.

Keep reading to learn how pap smears help detect cervical cancer and how often you should get one, the role of vaccines in preventing HPV, how HPV and other factors impact your cervical cancer risk, the symptoms of cervical cancer, and much more.

What’s a pap smear?

A pap smear is a quick, relatively painless procedure that involves collecting cells from your cervix to test if they are precancerous or cancerous.

The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. The cervix allows fluids (such as menstrual blood) to pass from the uterus into the vagina and widens during childbirth.

Pap smear screening is primarily used to:

  • Find cervical cancer early when it’s more likely to be cured
  • Find cells that could become cancerous in the future

Your TopLine MD Alliance affiliated provider will insert a metal instrument called a speculum into your vagina to access the cervix, then use a small brush to gently collect cells from the surface. The collected cells are placed on a glass slide and sent to a laboratory for examination and analysis.

Your pap smear results can be normal, unclear, abnormal, or unsatisfactory:

  • Normal – No cell changes were found on your cervix.
  • Unclear – It’s common for pap smear results to come back unclear or inconclusive, which means your cervical cells might be abnormal. A human papillomavirus (HPV) test can determine if your cell changes are related to HPV – more details on that below.
  • Abnormal – Cell changes were found on your cervix. Abnormal changes are likely caused by HPV. Most minor changes go back to normal on their own, but serious changes (precancerous cells) can turn into cancer if they aren’t removed. In rare cases, an abnormal pap smear may indicate that you already have cancer.
  • Unsatisfactory – There are not enough cells in the sample, or the cells are clumped together. You may need to repeat your pap smear.

How often should you get a pap smear?

Medical recommendations for cervical cancer screening usually depend on your age:

  • In your 20s – You should get your first pap smear at age 21, then repeat the test every three years. Your provider may suggest having a pap smear and HPV test at the same time since both help screen for cervical cancer.
  • After age 30 – Pap smears and HPV tests are typically repeated every five years.
  • After age 65 – Have you had at least three pap smears or two HPV tests in the past 10 years without abnormal results? You may consider stopping after discussing your health history and risk factors with your provider.

You may no longer need cervical cancer screening at any age after total hysterectomy (a surgery that removes the uterus and cervix) if cancer was not the reason for the procedure.

However, your provider may recommend getting pap smears more frequently if you have a prior cervical cancer diagnosis, a prior pap smear with precancerous cells, a weakened immune system, or other risk factors for cervical cancer.

Your TopLine MD Alliance affiliate provider can confirm what frequency is best for you.

What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the cervix and can spread to other parts of your body. Several risk factors increase your chance of developing cervical cancer, including:

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses that are typically spread through skin-on-skin contact during sexual activity (including vaginal, anal, and oral sex). Certain HPV viruses, such as HPV 16 and 18, can infect the cervix and develop precancerous cells that can become cervical cancer.

Sexual history

Becoming sexually active at a young age, having many sexual partners, or having a high-risk partner all increase your chances of exposure to HPV – and therefore your risk of cervical cancer.

Weakened immune system

Your immune system is responsible for fighting off infections (such as HPV), destroying cancer cells, and slowing their growth and spread. Women with compromised immune systems due to HIV, autoimmune disease, organ transplant, or other reasons are at greater risk of developing cervical cancer.

Smoking

Women who smoke are about twice as likely as those who don’t smoke to get cervical cancer.

Exposure to diethylstilbestrol

Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic form of estrogen used from the 1940s to 1970s to prevent miscarriage and pregnancy complications, has been linked to cervical cancer.

Family history

If your mother or sister had cervical cancer, your chance of developing the disease is higher than if no one in the family had it.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer often does not present symptoms in its early stages, which makes routine pap smears even more critical.

As the cancer progresses, you may experience the following symptoms:

  • Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse, between periods, or after menopause
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than usual
  • Vaginal discharge that is watery, bloody, or has a foul odor
  • Pelvic pain or pressure
  • Pain during sexual intercourse

The sooner you contact a TopLine MD Alliance affiliated provider, the sooner you can get diagnosed and begin treatment. So, don’t wait – find a provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.

Can the HPV vaccine help?

Yes, the HPV vaccine is another way to protect yourself against cervical cancer. It also protects against cancer of the vagina, vulva, penis, or anus caused by HPV as well as mouth, throat, head, and neck cancer caused by HPV.

The vaccine helps your body build immunity to certain strains of HPV, leaving you better protected if you are exposed to the HPV virus.

The ideal age for HPV vaccination is before a person is sexually active. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12. The Gardasil 9 vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be given as early as age 9.

The CDC also recommends catch-up HPV vaccines for people up to age 26 who are not fully vaccinated.

Gardasil 9 is FDA-approved through age 45. If you’re between the ages of 27-45, ask your TopLine MD Alliance affiliated provider about the risks and benefits of the HPV vaccine.

Do you still need pap smears if you’re vaccinated?

Yes, the HPV vaccine does not replace pap smears. Cervical cancer screening with routine Pap smears starting at age 21 is an essential part of preventive healthcare for women.

Commit now to cervical cancer prevention by including pap smears in your healthcare routine.

About TopLine MD Alliance

The TopLine MD Alliance was created by physicians who came together to make healthcare experiences better for patients. We help patients navigate the healthcare system, connecting them with top-of-the-line healthcare providers, practices, diagnostic centers, and imaging centers we trust.

Visit us online to find a TopLine MD Alliance affiliated women’s health provider near you.

The TopLine MD Alliance is an association of independent physicians and medical practice groups who are committed to providing a higher standard of healthcare services. The members of the TopLine MD Alliance have no legal or financial relationship with one another. The TopLine MD Alliance brand has no formal corporate, economic, or legal ties to any of the affiliated physicians or practice groups.