Health-Wellness
Bonnie Roll, CNM, WHNP, Livingston HealthCare Clinic
As we celebrate Women’s Health Month this May, it’s important to focus on preventative care and the powerful impact routine screenings may have on long term health. One screening in particular has played a major role in reducing cancer rates and saving lives: the Pap smear.
Pap smear testing is a routine, effective, and lifesaving screening procedure. During the exam, cells are collected from the cervix and sent to a laboratory for evaluation. This process allows healthcare providers to identify abnormal cell changes, known as dysplasia, before they develop into cervical cancer. When detected early, these changes can be treated, effectively preventing cancer long before it has the chance to develop.
Cervical cancer often progresses slowly without symptoms. Many people experience no symptoms and feel completely healthy, which makes regular screening especially important. Without Pap smear testing, abnormal cells can quietly develop over several years. With consistent screening, providers may intervene sooner, protecting long term health.
Some women delay or avoid Pap smears due to concerns about discomfort or time. In reality, however, testing usually requires about 10 minutes and is not painful. For a majority of patients, the examination process is brief and straightforward.
Routine Pap smear screening typically begins at age 21. If results are normal, subsequent screening is recommended every three years. On the other hand, there are well established guidelines for continued care and treatment for abnormal results. Providers rely on decades of evidence and experience to safely and effectively monitor or treat abnormal cervical cells, reducing the risk of cancer.
After age 30, Pap smears are generally performed every five years and include co testing for human papillomavirus (HPV)—a sexually transmitted disease that causes approximately 99% of cervical cancers. It is common, often silent, and highly detectable through screening.
Fortunately, HPV is not only identifiable—it is preventable. The HPV vaccine, commonly known as Gardasil, provides protection against nine types of HPV, including those most frequently associated with cervical cancer. The vaccine can begin as early as age 10. Together, routine screening and vaccination offer powerful protection against cervical cancer.
With effective screening and prevention options, cervical cancer has become one of the most preventable cancers. Yet prevention is only effective when screenings are scheduled regularly. Waiting until symptoms appear—or delaying appointments—can mean missing the window when early treatment makes the greatest difference.
Women’s Health Month is a convenient and helpful reminder to check when your last Pap smear was performed. If it has been more than three years, or more than five years after age 30, now is the time to schedule an appointment. Staying current with preventive screenings is one of the most meaningful steps in supporting long term health.
Just 10 or so minutes today can provide protection for years to come. Preventive care works. Screenings matter. And getting them done on time—rather than further delaying them—can make the difference.