Lesbian, bisexual and queer women and cervical cancer screening

Lesbian, bisexual and queer women face barriers to accessing healthcare that make it challenging to get screened for cancer. Barriers that can make participating in cancer screening challenging for women in 2SLGBTQI+ communities include:

• homophobia or biphobia
• misinformation about cancer screening needs
• a lack of 2SLGBTQI+ specific resources
• concerns about physical and emotional safety

But getting screened for cancer is an important part of regular medical care for everyone because the earlier cancer is found, the better the outcome and treatment options will be.

If you have a cervix and have ever had sexual contact with anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, you should start having regular Pap tests by the time you’re 25. You’ll need a Pap test every 3 years or as recommended by your healthcare provider.

Even if you are no longer sexually active, you should continue to have regular Pap tests. If you’ve had a hysterectomy, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you still need a Pap test.

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.

Your healthcare provider should help you understand the benefits and limitations of cancer screening. They should be affirming and perform any tests in a way that reduces your discomfort as much as possible. Bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to your appointment may also help you feel more comfortable. And if you don’t feel comfortable, you are allowed to leave and book another appointment with a different provider.

Find out more about cervical cancer screening.