ACOG notes that, over the past 30 years, the number of cervical cases and deaths has decreased by half, largely due to cervical-cancer screening like Pap smears. When to Start Getting Pap Smears ...

For women aged 30-64, ACOG recommends annual Pap smear with pelvic examination. After 3 normal exams, however, screening may be reduced to every 2-3 years. (This is only if the patient has never had ...

Along with extending the time between Pap tests to once every three years for most women (instead of just those age 30 and older), instead of every two years, ACOG for the first time is advising ...

Generally speaking, you should start getting regular Pap smears at age 21, according to ACOG’s guidelines. That’s a better guideline to follow than when you first become sexually active, ...

These high infection rates translate into a high number of abnormal pap smears. However, the ACOG guidelines point out that only 0.1 percent of cervical cancer occurs in women under 21 years of ...

Generally speaking, you should start getting regular Pap smears at age 21, according to ACOG’s guidelines. That’s a better guideline to follow than when you first become sexually active, ...

A Pap smear involves a medical provider inserting a speculum into the vagina, then swabbing the cervix before sending the sample to a lab. Credit - Getty Images Maybe you had a bad experience with ...

Previous recommendations called for annual Pap smears three years after the onset of sexual activity or 21 years of age. ACOG was concerned that starting earlier would lead to harmful tests for ...

Clinicians should educate patients that, although the recommended length of time between Pap tests has been widened, the ACOG does recommend yearly pelvic examinations in women aged 21 years and ...

Maybe you had a bad experience with your last Pap smear and you’re wary of going back to the ob-gyn. Or maybe you’ve never had one before and are scared to make the appointment. It’s understandable to ...