• Get screened before you have symptoms
• Begin regular Pap tests about 3 years after your first sexual
intercourse, or when you reach 21, whichever is first
• Continue yearly Pap tests if you have risk factors for cervical cancer and your doctor advises it
• Continue Pap tests every two to three years after the age of 30 if you have no risk factors for cervical cancer and you’ve had three normal test results in a row
• Consult with your doctor to determine the screening schedule
appropriate for you
Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2007, Atlanta: American Cancer Society, 2007
