When should I be screened for cervical cancer?
Our recommendation
Anyone with a cervix can get cervical cancer. If you have a cervix and have ever had sexual contact with anyone, you should be regularly screened for cervical cancer by the time you’re 25. Sexual contact includes sexual intercourse, genital skin-to-skin contact and oral sex.
It’s important to keep getting screened for cervical cancer regularly, even if you’re not sexually active anymore or if you’ve had an HPV vaccine. If you’ve had surgery to remove your uterus (hysterectomy), talk to your healthcare provider about whether you may still need to be screened for cervical cancer.
Depending on where you live in Canada, the test used when screening for cervical cancer might be a Pap test or an HPV test. Both are good tests for finding cervical cancer early.
If an HPV test is used in your province, you will need an HPV test every 5 years. You should continue to be screened for cervical cancer until the age of 70. An HPV test done at home or with a healthcare provider are both effective for cervical cancer screening. Choose whichever option is available and comfortable for you.
If a Pap test is used in your province, you will need a Pap test every 3 years. You should continue to be screened for cervical cancer until the age of 70. But if you are 70 and you have not had 3 negative Pap test results in the last 10 years, you should continue to be screened every 3 years until this is achieved.
The most important risk for cervical cancer
The most important risk for developing cervical cancer is infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV). Almost all cervical cancer cases are due to HPV.
HPV is spread through sexual contact, including vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex and genital skin-to-skin contact.
The virus can appear years after you have been exposed to it. Using a condom and other barriers during sex decreases the chances of getting HPV, but a condom or other barrier can only protect the area it covers. It’s possible for uncovered areas to become infected.
Even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine, you’ll still need regular cervical cancer screening. The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of HPV.
How do I know if I‘m at a high risk for cervical cancer?
You may have a higher than average risk of developing cervical cancer if you have:
- a weakened immune system
- been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth
- an infection with a high-risk type of HPV that doesn't go away
- genital warts that you've had for a long time or that are difficult to treat
- cancers related to HPV such as cancer of the anus or vulva
No matter your risk, if you have a cervix you should follow the screening guidelines for cervical cancer. Talk to your healthcare provider about when you should have screening tests.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your risk
If you are at a higher than average risk, you may need a personal plan for testing. This may include more screening for cervical cancer more frequently.
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