Are you a woman who gets an annual pap smear and check-up? It's so important. Doctors can find things early on and treat them and your chance of survival is much better.
When do you think is the right age to start getting them? Once you are sexually active?

I always undergo an annual pap smear, although it is also recommended to have it twice a year especially for those women who are sexually active. There is no right age to start getting a pap smear. Every woman who is sexually active should undergo an annual or bi- annual pap smear test.

Pap smear is the test to determine the presence of abnormal cell growth in the vagina, the cervix and the uterus. It is the preliminary test used to determine the presence of cervical cancer. It is important that all women should undergo this test as a part of their physical examination.

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Pap smear test is nothing but detecting the abnormal growth of cells in the genital tract, and is advised for all the ladies who are involved is sex should have this test done atleast once a year.
It helps in early diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancers, infections, and in preventing the diseases.

Hmmm I didnt know that it was yearly that you need to get a smear test done, i thought it was every 4 years????????

i don't go for a pap smear annually. but i think after i have this baby, i will be going annually since i am already 26 years old and it will be better for me to get an annual pap smear and check up.

It is advisable for sexually active females to undergo pap smear test at least once a year. Prevention is better than cure, after all.

If you're sexually active I think once a year is good. As for when a girl should have her first one I would think it should be after her first period. But, of course, her doctor would know best. It's never too early to make sure that everything is okay or if there is a problem that should be checked out.

Once a year is the standard at the beginning but your doctor will decide when it is ok to go to two years. Let's not forget that pap smears can also be for testig for STI's or STD's. And of course checking for cervical cancer and HPV the human papiloma virus. I used to get a test between every partner or when a birth control pill renewal came up and that is what my doctor says is the standard. For married or monogamous women twice a year is normal so long as the cells keep coming back normal.

I've heard that you should go once a year whether you're sexually active or not. I had my first one at age 19, but I think as long as you go before you're 20 years old, you should be fine.

I keep hearing that it's best to start getting them even before you're sexually active. I think age 14 or 15 is what I heard! Seems really early to me though!!!

I think that's really early, but I guess different doctors and even commericals will tell you different things about when the right age to go is. Just use your best judgment.

From what I know, you aren't at any risk for STD's or cervical cancer until you become sexually active... so I wouldn't recommend getting one done unless the person has had sex.

That's true.. hmm.. ya, not too sure where I heard that anyways

Hear hear! I think that's how it should really go too. You can only have STD once you start having sex. No sex, then no STD, then no need for a pap smear.

I've had dysplasia (like a lot of women, I'm sure) and the one thing that stuck in my head is the doctor telling me that if I hadn't had sex, I wouldn't have had those bad cells or been at risk for cervical cancer........ if there isn't anything in there, then nothing can cause it damage....
But once a woman is sexualy active, papsmears are so important! They can save your life.

The scary thing is that those HPV commericals that I've been seeing lately say that you don't even have to have been sexually active to contract HPV.

I agree. The thought is that one is less at risk if you have not had sexual intercourse.

I know in the UK you only get your smears done once you become sexually active.

I have mine regularly. It's an extremely important test for women to have and I don't understand why so many try to avoid having one at all.