Cervical Cancer Screenings After 30-The Latest Guidelines
You might be wondering if you still need to get an annual pap smear once as you age. The short answer is yes. Cervical cancer screenings are an important component of women’s health. Getting them regularly, even in perimenopause, menopause, and beyond, aids in the prevention and early treatment of cervical cancers.
Causes of Cervical Cancer
The majority of cervical cancers are caused by Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV. About half of all sexually active women will contract HPV at some point in their lives. Most people exposed to HPV won’t develop cancer.
About 10% of people exposed to HPV will develop long-lasting infections that put them at greater risk of developing precancerous lesions or cancer. Significantly less will actually do so.
There are more than 40 known HPV variants, 13 of which can trigger healthy cervical cells to abnormally replicate and mutate. Risk factors like smoking and HIV infection increase your risk of developing cervical cancer.
Why is Cervical Cancer Screening Important?
Cervical cancer screening can easily identify infections, inflammation, precancerous cells, and cancers of the cervix. Identifying these conditions as early as possible gives you the greatest chance of avoiding cancer or successfully treating cancer if you already have it.
Research shows that regular screening decreases the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer by a whopping 80%. The screening tests are simple to perform and, although sometimes uncomfortable, relatively easy to go through. It seems worth it for such impressive results.
How Often Should I Have Cervical Cancer Screenings?
If their first test is normal, people ages 21-29 are recommended to have a screening every 3 years. Ages 30-65 can be tested every 3-5 years, depending on which test they are doing.
According to the American Cancer Society, those older than 65 no longer need screening if all their recent tests have been normal and if they’ve never had precancerous cells on their cervix.
What Tests Should I Have to Screen for Cervical Cancer?
There are two tests that can be performed to check for cervical cancer. The first is the Papanicolaou test, more commonly known as the Pap smear or Pap test. Your healthcare provider will collect cervical cells by using a speculum to open your vaginal canal and then swabbing your cervix. Those cells will then be checked for any abnormalities.
The other available test is an HPV test. Cervical cells will be collected just like they are for a Pap test, but they will only be checked for the presence of HPV. This doesn’t show whether you have precancerous or cancerous cells, but it does show if you are at risk.
You can also get a combined HPV and Pap test. This is called co-testing, and it is the most thorough cervical cancer screening available.
From ages 30-65, it’s recommended you have a Pap smear every 5 years if all previous tests have been normal, an HPV test every 3 years, or a combined Pap and HPV every 5 years.
Do I Still Need to Screen for Cervical Cancer if I’m not Having Sex?
Yes, you should have regular cervical cancer screenings even if you’re not having sex. Although it’s unlikely you’ll develop cervical cancer, it is not impossible.
First, not all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. A minority are caused by run-of-the-mill DNA mutations.
Also, HPV has occasionally been found in the vaginal canals of virgins. Non-penetrative sexual activity can transmit the virus, so even if you’re not having sex, you can become infected with HPV.
Do I Still Need to Screen if I Got the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV vaccine became available in the U.S. in 2006. If you’re young enough to have received it (it’s currently only recommended for those under 26 years old,) keep in mind that you still need to have regular cervical cancer screenings.
The HPV vaccine protects against most of the virus strains that are known to cause cancer, but not all. Also, if you were already sexually active before you got the vaccine, chances are you were already exposed to HPV.
When Can I Stop Screening for Cervical Cancer?
At age 65, if your last 3 Pap tests or last 2 Pap-HPV tests have been normal, it’s recommended that you stop regular cervical cancer screenings.
Although this is the current official recommendation, research shows that almost 1 out of every 5 new cervical cancer cases between 2009-2018 were in women 65 or older. Many of these were late-stage cancers.
Knowing that cervical cancer risk doesn’t magically vanish at age 65, you might want to have a discussion with your health care provider about your medical history and potential risks. It might make sense for you to continue screenings after age 65.
Only those who undergo a trachelectomy (removal of cervix) or a complete hysterectomy (removal of uterus and cervix) no longer have any risk of cervical cancer.
Final Thoughts
Anyone with a cervix needs to keep in mind that cervical cancer is a possibility. Regular cervical cancer screenings can save your life by preventing cancer from ever forming or by finding cancers early when they are most treatable.