To bring awareness to another aspect of women’s health this summer, read on to discover the importance of cervical screenings.
What is the cervix?
The cervix is located at the top of the vagina, at the opening of the uterus. Changes in the cells of the cervix can lead to potential cancer, making it of high importance to get screenings of this area. The cervix is made up of two types of cells which comprise a thin tissue covering the cervix. The first type is squamous cells, which are “skin-like”. The second type of cell is the glandular cells. These cells produce mucus in the cervix. When any of these types of cells become abnormal, they grow out of control over time, leading to cancer as they invade the cervical tissue.
What is a cervical screening?
These are usually done during a pelvic exam, meaning that cervical screenings only take a few minutes. Screenings include both cervical cytology, otherwise known as a Pap smear, and testing for human papillomavirus or HPV. Both of these types of tests remove cells from the cervix using a sampling instrument and then place them in a special liquid to be sent to the laboratory.
A Pap smear checks to see if any cells in the sample are abnormal. In the HPV test, however, the sample is instead tested for the common HPV types.
Few people who receive cervical screening regularly end up developing this type of cancer.
When should women get cervical screenings?
It is recommended that women begin getting cervical screenings at the age of 21, even if they are not yet sexually active. The type of test and frequency of cervical screening that is recommended depends on age.
For women between 21-29, a Pap smear is the preferred method of testing and can be received every 3 years.
Women between the ages of 30-65 have three different options. They can receive both a Pap smear and HPV test every 5 years, just a Pap smear every 3 years, or only an HPV test every 5 years.
After the age of 65, women no longer need to receive cervical screenings as long as they do not have a history of this kind of cancer or cervical cell abnormalities. Additionally, within the past 10 years, if they have either had three negative Pap smear tests in a row or two negative HPV tests in a row, they are safe to stop getting these screenings.
Although the HPV vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer, it does not protect a patient from all cancerous types of HPV, making it still a high priority to receive cervical screenings.
Sources:
“1,526 Cervical Cancer Icon Royalty-Free Photos and Stock Images …” Shutter Stock, http://www.shutterstock.com/search/cervical-cancer-icon?image_type=vector. Accessed 8 June 2025.
“Cervical Cancer Screening.” ACOG, http://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/cervical-cancer-screening. Accessed 8 June 2025.
“Cervical Cancer Screening.” NCI, http://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/screening. Accessed 8 June 2025.
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