The Student Health Center recommends an annual Pap smear. Pap smears are important to detect certain medical problems. These medical problems include, but are not limited to:
- Cervical cancer
- Precancerous conditions that may develop into cervical cancer
- Cancer of other areas (for example, the vagina)
- Certain sexually transmitted infections
A few women are at low-risk for these medical problems. You are at low-risk if you:
- Have never had sexual intercourse
- Have only one sexual partner
- Have never smoked
- Have never had genital warts (Condyloma)
- Have had 3 normal annual Pap smears in a row
Experts believe that these women at very low risks need less frequent Pap smears.
Most women need annual Pap smears, especially if they have any of the following risk factors:
- Less than 20 years old at first intercourse
- Multiple sexual partners
- Current or past cigarette smoking
- History of genital warts (Condyloma)
- History of abnormal Pap smear (depending on abnormality, when it occurred, and how it was treated)
If you believe you are at low-risk and would like to have Pap smears less often than once a year, you must remember that:
- Annual general check-ups are still recommended.
- It is your responsibility to remember to come in for your Pap smears at the recommended intervals.
- Your situation (and your risk) could change and you could need more frequent Pap smears.