Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers! That is good news. But people still need to get screened.

I teach medical students, and one lesson I share often is this: medicine changes as research results. What we learned years ago may not always be the best way today.

When I was in medical school, Pap smears were done on every woman after she became sexually active and paps were needed EVERY year. Now we know more. Today, Pap smears begin at age 21, no matter when sexual activity starts. This change came from strong research showing that earlier testing did not improve health and could cause harm from unnecessary procedures. Young adults can clear (get rid of) HPV especially when they contract HPV when they are adolescents.

We have also learned how important HPV (human papillomavirus) is. HPV causes almost all cervical cancers. That is why we now recommend the HPV vaccine for both girls and boys starting at age 9. This vaccine helps prevent cancer before it can ever begin.

Even more exciting news arrived this year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services now supports self-collected vaginal samples for cervical cancer screening. This means some women can collect their own sample instead of having a pelvic exam. The Health Resources and Services Administration says this option should be offered to women ages 30 to 65 who are at average risk.

Women ages 21 to 29 should still have Pap smears every three years.The new guidelines recommend an HPV test every five years for women ages 30 to 65. Pap smears are still available, but they are no longer the main test for this age group.

These updates matter because they make screening easier, more comfortable, and more affordable. Insurance plans will be required to cover these tests.

Cervical cancer screening saves lives. Staying up to date with research helps us do it better—for our patients today and for the future.

I hope this helps.