What is the age to start getting pap smears?

The American Cancer Society recommends that women with a cervix begin cervical cancer screening with a Pap test every 3 years starting at age 25. Women ages 21 to 29 can choose to have a Pap test alone or a combination of a Pap test and an HPV test every 5 years.

The HPV test is a more sensitive test for detecting cervical cancer than the Pap test, and it can also detect HPV infections that can lead to cervical cancer. However, the Pap test is still a valuable screening tool, and it is recommended that women continue to have regular Pap tests as part of their cervical cancer screening regimen.

Women who have certain risk factors for cervical cancer, such as a weakened immune system or a history of sexually transmitted infections, may need to start cervical cancer screening earlier than age 25 or have Pap tests more frequently.