[shalllow]

Hi my questioned is that I am still 21 years old virgin do I need a pap smear still? Because I heard that virgins don't?

[Wondergirl]

Yes, of course you do. My aunt was a virgin all her life and had pap smears and mammograms every year to forestall cervical cancer and breast cancer.

[Eliz52]

No, if you've never been sexually active, you'd be excluded from most pap test programs, it's high risk for no benefit. It's only the States that promote testing for all women from 21 due to a paternalistic assumption that all women have been sexually active by 21. Pap testing carries a fairly high risk of false positives that can lead to excess biopsies etc. Once sexually active the UK offers pap tests from 25 and in evidence based screening found in the Netherlands and Finland, not before 30. The Dutch will shortly introduce a new program, 5 hrHPV primary tests or self-test at 30,35,40,50 and 60 and only the roughly 5% who are HPV+ will be offered a pap test.
So be careful accepting pap testing and like all cancer screening, it's elective and your decision.

[Alty]

Pap smears test for abnormal cells that can signify cancer. There is no risk to a pap smear, it's a very simple, very safe test. You do not have to be sexually active in order to get cervical cancer.

It is your choice, but yes, at 21, even as a virgin, pap smears should be part of your yearly checkup routine.

The above poster is not accurate.

[Alty]

No, if you've never been sexually active, you'd be excluded from most pap test programs, it's high risk for no benefit. It's only the States that promote testing for all women from 21 due to a paternalistic assumption that all women have been sexually active by 21. Pap testing carries a fairly high risk of false positives that can lead to excess biopsies etc. Once sexually active the UK offers pap tests from 25 and in evidence based screening found in the Netherlands and Finland, not before 30. The Dutch will shortly introduce a new program, 5 hrHPV primary tests or self-test at 30,35,40,50 and 60 and only the roughly 5% who are HPV+ will be offered a pap test.
So be careful accepting pap testing and like all cancer screening, it's elective and your decision.

High risk? How? There is absolutely no risk at all. Have you ever had a pap smear? Are you even female?

I'd like to know where you got your information.

[Wondergirl]

No, if you've never been sexually active, you'd be excluded from most pap test programs, it's high risk for no benefit.

There is no risk and only benefits. A breast exam is also part of the total exam. If my doctor hadn't done these, I'd be typing this from Paradise instead of Illinois.

[Eliz52]

High risk? How? There is absolutely no risk at all. Have you ever had a pap smear? Are you even female?

I'd like to know where you got your information.

High risk because young women produce the most false positives, 1 in 3 for those under 25. No country has shown a benefit pap testing young women and that's why many countries do not test before 25 or 30. My information comes from medical journals. Routine breast and pelvic exams are not recommended at any age in symptom-free women in Australia, the UK and in many other countries.
There are many great references, head over to Dr Joel Sherman's medical privacy blog and under women's privacy concerns, in the side bar you'll find lots of real information, start with the research by Dr Raffle.
Off to a conference now, good luck and please do your reading.

[J_9]

Actually, Elize52 is correct. Unless there is a familial history of cervical cancer it's not necessary to be tested prior to intercourse. After which, the recommendations of yearly PAPs has been changed to every 3-5 years depending on the frequency of changing partners.

[Fr_Chuck]

But yes they are safe and normally done as part of your medical check up. In US, Canada they are normally part of regular exams.

[Alty]

Actually, Elize52 is correct. Unless there is a familial history of cervical cancer it's not necessary to be tested prior to intercourse. After which, the recommendations of yearly PAPs has been changed to every 3-5 years depending on the frequency of changing partners.

J, I do have to ask about the risks of having a pap smear done. I can accept that I may be wrong, but the part that really bugged me is that the poster said it was risky to have a pap smear done. I really can't see how getting a pap done is risky.

[J_9]

I guess I missed that part, there is no risk associated with a PAP.