Pap smears, or cervical cytology, is a way for your doctor to rule out cervical cancer and in some cases, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Screening is recommended for women under thirty every three years, without an accompanying HPV test. After thirty, women should have both an HPV screening and pap smear every five years. Once you are 65 years of age and have no history of moderate to severe abnormal cells and have had a Pap smear within the last five years.
Note: Dr. Geldernick utilizes 2 new instruments that make following up on an abnormal pap smear much more comfortable. These instruments are used in the colposcopy and biopsies of the cervix procedures. Click for more information about the instruments SoftBiopsy and SoftECC.
An excellent source for further knowledge is acog.org’s FAQ page on cervical cancer screening.
