This is why proper screening is important. As a woman this takes place at your annual exam. During an annual exam your gynecologist will take the time to visually inspect your cervix and when appropriate will take a cellular sample for further inspection. This is commonly known as a Papanicolaou (Pap) Test. It is important to note here that a pap test is NEVER done in an emergency room or urgent care. Women confuse speculum exams, which are done in the ER, with pap smears all the time. Please understand that cervical cancer screening is ONLY done in an office setting. The recommendations of cervical cancer screening are constantly changing! Here are the screening recommendations I want you to know. 1. It is recommended that a woman has her first Pap Smear at 21 years of age. There is a reason for this. In the past, clinicians were guilty of overtreating abnormal pap tests with unnecessary procedures (ex LEEP) which later led to additional health crises such as preterm birth. What is known about HPV is that most women with early exposure have an immune system that will allow for clearance of the virus within a 1-to-2-year period if left untreated.
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