Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Routine Pap Smear

Women need several health checks yearly to evaluate for certain types of cancer, including cervical, uterine, and breast cancer. A Pap smear is one of the tests you need to find atypical cells that could turn into cancer.

Getting a routine Pap smear is more critical than ever, especially with cancer on the rise. At Collaborative Women's Care in Miami, Florida, Dr. Eduardo Valdes provides well-woman exams and gynecologic services to screen his patients for diseases such as cancer, HPV, and sexually transmitted infections.

How often do I need a Pap smear?

A Pap smear is a test that checks for abnormal cells in the cervix. We perform it during a pelvic exam, using a small tool to scrape cells off the cervix's surface. The primary purpose of the Pap test is to detect abnormal cells that may signal the presence of cancer or other conditions.

Women used to need a Pap smear yearly, but those guidelines have changed. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women between the ages of 21 and 29 should undergo a Pap test at least every three years.

Women 30 and over have several options for Pap smears. They can either have a Pap every three years, a Pap and HPV test, or have just an HPV test every fifth year.

Women over the age of 65 can stop having Pap tests if they've never had cervical cancer or an abnormal Pap test or have had at least three negative Pap tests in a row.

These guidelines are for healthy women who haven't had any issues with Pap tests in the past. You may need more frequent Pap tests if you've had cervical cancer or an abnormal Pap test, or have a weakened immune system.

Why Pap smears are important

Pap tests are an essential part of women's health for several reasons. They are the best way to find cervical cancer and abnormal cells early on, when they're easier to treat.

These tests are simple and nearly painless, but can save your life. It finds cell changes and precancerous cells that could turn into cancer without treatment. A Pap test also finds cell changes related to HPV, a significant factor in cervical cancer.

A Pap test is important because the sooner we find cell changes, the quicker we can take action to prevent cervical cancer from occurring. If the test detects cancer, the earlier it is found, the better the outcome will be.

What happens if I miss a Pap test?

Missing a routine Pap test is more significant than you may think. The test is crucial in detecting cell changes early that could potentially become cancer. The longer you wait to have the test done, the higher the chance you may have cancer cells that go undetected.

However, not every woman who misses a Pap test will have detrimental results. The goal of the test is to detect cervical changes early and provide the necessary treatments to prevent cervical cancer.

Missing a test could result in our failure to detect abnormal cellular changes that may signal cancer, HPV, or other significant conditions. The best course of action is to reschedule the Pap test as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary complications.

To learn more about Pap smears and well-woman exams, call our Miami, Florida, office to speak with Dr. Valdes or request an appointment using our convenient online booking feature.