Cervical Cancer

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Calling Your Health Care Provider

Call your health care provider if you are a sexually active woman who has not had a pap smear in the past year; if you are at least 20 years old and have never had a pelvic examination and Pap smear; if you think your mother may have taken DES when she was pregnant with you; or if you have not had regular Pap smears as recommended below:

• Every year initially, and for women over the age of 35
• Every year for women who have had multiple sexual partners or a history of HPV or genital warts
• Every year for women who are taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• Every 2 to 3 years for some women up to age 35 who have had three negative, consecutive Pap smears, or for women who have had a hysterectomy for non-cancer reasons (if they are otherwise at low risk)
• As often as is recommended after an abnormal pap smear
• As often as is recommended after evaluation and treatment of cervical pre-cancer or cancer