It is important for all women to go for a pap smear annually.
Don’t wait to see a doctor when you notice a problem, it may be too late.
A pap smear can save your life, because it can find early signs of cervical cancer and can also find abnormal cervical cells before they turn into cancer cells.
If caught early, the chance of successful treatment of cervical cancer is very high.
Women aged 21 to 65 should get a pap smear annually as part of their routine health care.
Only women aged 65 and older who have had three normal consecutive pap smears and no abnormal test results in the last 10 years and have been told by their doctor that they don’t need to be tested anymore, may stop going for a pap smear.
Women who don’t have a cervix, usually as a result of a hysterectomy, and who do not have a history of cervical cancer or abnormal pap smear results, don’t need to be tested.
Before stopping regular pap smears, women should always consult a doctor.
A type of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that is passed from person to person through genital contact causes most cases of cervical cancer and most women never know they have HPV, because it usually stays hidden.
Sometimes it goes away on its own, but if not, it can cause changes in the cells of the cervix.
A pap smear can usually find these changes. Women aged 26 years and younger can get an HPV vaccine to help prevent HPV infection.
Those who are not members of a medical aid or do not have money to go to a private doctor or gynaecologist for a pap smear, can visit any government health institute like Rethabile Clinic for a pap smear free of charge.
