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You may have heard that every person who has a cervix and uterus needs to get a Pap smear regularly. It’s a test that can help detect cervical cancer. But do you need a Pap smear if you’re not sexually active?

The short answer is yes. But how often you get one may depend on your age and other factors. Here, we look at why Pap smears are important for everyone.

What Is a Pap Smear?

A Pap smear or Pap test (medical name: Papanicolaou test) is a screening test for cervical cancer.

A virus — human papillomavirus or HPV — causes >90% of cervical cancer. HPV is a very common infection that usually gets transmitted through sex. Most HPV infections go away on their own, and only certain strains cause cancer.

However, screening for cervical cancer is important because the disease doesn’t have many symptoms in its early stages. The Pap test can detect abnormal cells in the cervix before they become cancerous.

The Pap smear is one of two tests that doctors run to prevent cervical cancer or find it in the early stages. The other screening method is the HPV test, which finds the virus that causes cell changes in the cervix.

What Happens During a Pap Test?

Here’s how a Pap test works. Your doctor collects cells from your cervix, the lower part of your uterus at the top of the vagina. You’ll have the test in your doctor’s office or a clinic, often during a routine pelvic exam.

Lab workers will analyze the cells under a microscope to see if they show any signs of cancer. The cells could be normal, cancerous, or show changes that might turn into cervical cancer.

The HPV test works in a similar way. However, it tests for HPV, not changes in the cervical cells.

The Importance of Regular Screening

Both the HPV test and the Pap test can find the first signs of cervical pre-cancer. Because cervical cancer typically grows slowly, doctors have an excellent chance of curing it if they find it early.

Today, most cervical cancers occur in patients who have never had a Pap test or haven’t had one recently. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 4,200 people in the U.S. die from cervical cancer annually.

Even if you haven’t had vaginal sex, you should still have regular Pap and/or HPV tests.

Here’s why: Any close skin-to-skin sexual contact can spread HPV, including anal sex, oral sex, and possibly deep kissing. And even if you haven’t had sex in months or years, the virus can remain dormant in your body.

Smoking, obesity, a weakened immune system, and a family history of the disease all increase your risk of getting cervical cancer.

Common Myths About Pap Smears

You may hear misinformation about Pap smears from friends, social media, or relatives. Here are some of the most common myths about Pap tests.

• A Pap test is painful. A Pap test may cause some slight discomfort, but it shouldn’t hurt.
• A Pap test is the same as a pelvic exam. A pelvic exam is not the same as a Pap test. During a pelvic exam, your doctor will check your vagina, vulva, cervix, ovaries, and uterus for any problems.
• I can’t get a Pap smear if I’m having my period. If you’re not bleeding heavily, you can still have a Pap test while you’re on your period. Call your doctor’s office and ask them if you should reschedule.
• If I’m not sexually active, I don’t need to have a Pap test. Everyone with a cervix and uterus from ages 21 to 65 should have regular Pap and/or HPV tests.
• Pap smears screen for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Pap smears don’t screen for STIs. You need to ask your doctor for an STI screening.

Pap Smear Guidelines for People Who Aren’t Sexually Active

According to the CDC, here’s when you should get screened for cervical cancer. It doesn’t matter if you’re sexually active or not.

Ages 21 to 29: Get a Pap test every three years. Cervical cancer is very rare under age 20, so there’s no need for screening before age 21.

Age 30 to 65: Your doctor may recommend one of the following options:

• HPV test only. If the results are normal, you may not have to get another screening for five years.
• HPV test with the Pap test (also called co-testing). If the results are normal, you may not have to get another screening for five years.
• Pap test only. If your result is normal, you may not have to get another screening for three years.

Older than 65: You may no longer need to get Pap smears. Your doctor may recommend stopping screening if:

• You had a hysterectomy and had your cervix removed.
• You had at least three normal Pap tests or two normal HPV tests in the past 10 years.
• You haven’t had cervical precancer in the past.

Your doctor may recommend a different timeline based on your medical history. If you’ve had abnormal Pap tests in the past, they may recommend more frequent screening.

When Should You Call the Doctor?

You should call your doctor if you have any signs of cervical cancer. These can include:

• Abdominal pain.
• A dull backache.
• Fatigue.
• Pain during sex.
• Painful bowel movements or bleeding from the rectum.
• Painful urination or blood in the urine.
• Pelvic pain.
• Periods that are heavier or longer than usual.
• Swollen legs.
• Vaginal bleeding after sex.
• Vaginal bleeding after you’ve been through menopause.
• Vaginal bleeding between periods.

Remember that these symptoms are all possible signs of other health conditions. Only your health care provider can diagnose you with cervical cancer.

Preventing Cervical Cancer

The most important way to prevent cervical cancer is to have regular Pap smears and HPV screenings. Other ways to support cervical health include:

• Getting the HPV vaccine if you’re 45 or younger. The vaccine helps prevent new HPV infections (although it doesn’t treat existing ones). The vaccine works best if you get it before any HPV exposure.
• Going back to the doctor if the results of your Pap or HPV test are abnormal. Follow-up care is essential if you have an abnormal result.
• Not smoking. If you smoke, plan to quit.
• Using condoms during sex. The CDC associates condom use with a lower rate of cervical cancer.