Who Should Have Pap Smears?
The national policy in Australia is that asymptomatic women should be screened every two years. Screening should commence at 18-20 years of age, or one to two years after first sexual intercourse, whichever is later. Screening can stop at 70 years of age, provided the woman has had two normal Pap smears in the preceding five years. Women over 70 years who have never had a Pap smear, or who request a Pap smear, should be screened. This policy applies to both heterosexual and homosexual women. Virgins do not need to be screened. Why is it recommended that women can stop being screened at age 70? Most cancers of the cervix take many years to develop, frequently more than 10 years. If a woman has been regularly screened prior to the age of 70, it is most unlikely that she will develop cervical cancer during the rest of her life. If however an asymptomatic woman over 70 years requests screening, this should be done. Is it safe to take a smear from a pregnant woman? It is safe to take a Pap
