Screening for cervical cancer
Screening means checking for a disease in a group of people who don’t show any symptoms of the disease. Screening tests help find cervical cancer before any symptoms develop. When cervical cancer is found and treated early, the chances of successful treatment are better.
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 youʼre 25. Sexual contact includes sexual intercourse, genital skin-to-skin contact and oral sex.
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 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 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 is achieved.
If you are at higher than average risk, you may need a personal plan for testing. This may include more frequent screening for cervical cancer.
Find out more about cervical cancer screening.
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