You should get a Pap smear starting at age 21. The general recommendations for Pap smear screening are:
- Ages 21 to 29: Get a Pap smear every 3 years.
- Ages 30 to 65: Get a Pap smear every 3 years, or a Pap smear combined with an HPV test (co-test) every 5 years.
- Older than 65: You may stop if you have had regular normal results in the past 10 years and no history of cervical cancer or precancerous changes.
Some factors like a history of abnormal Pap smears, high-risk HPV infection, weakened immune system, or previous cervical cancer may require more frequent testing or screening beyond age 65. Also, people who have had hysterectomies may have different guidelines. Even if you have had the HPV vaccine, you should follow these screening guidelines because the vaccine does not protect against all HPV types. In summary, routine Pap smears begin at 21, with screening intervals generally every 3 years until age 30, then either every 3 years with Pap alone or every 5 years with co-testing until 65, after which screening may stop if prior tests have been normal and there are no risk factors.
