Currently, the Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends that anyone with a cervix women, transmasculine and non-binary people who is or ever has been sexually active have a Pap smear test every 3 years starting at age Anyone who is due for a pap test can book online; no wait time and no referral is required. PAP clinic appointments are for pap tests only.
No other issues will be addressed. You will receive two electronic forms that must be completed before your appointment can be accepted. A Pap test is a simple screening test that can help prevent cancer of the cervix cervical cancer. A Pap test looks for abnormal cell changes in the cervix.
It does not test for other cancers in the reproductive organs or for sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or HIV. An instrument called a speculum is gently inserted in your vagina so your cervix can be more clearly seen.
Cells are taken from the cervix and are sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope. A Pap test looks for abnormal cells in the cervix. Cervical cells can become abnormal when a person has a human papillomavirus HPV infection. Abnormal cells often return to normal on their own. But if they do not, they need to be found and, if necessary, treated. Otherwise, slowly over a number of years, they may become cervical cancer. Currently, the Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends that anyone with a cervix women, transmasculine and nonbinary people who is or has ever been sexually active have a Pap test every 3 years starting at age If you are under 25, talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about whether you should start cervical screening with the Pap test.
The risk of getting cancer of the cervix does not decrease with age. Pap tests should be a part of your regular healthcare until you are at least 70 years old. Pap tests can stop at the age of 70 if you have had 3 or more normal tests in the previous 10 years. If you have had a hysterectomy, talk to your doctor to see if you still need a Pap test. You should have a Pap test every 3 years. If you develop abnormal cells, your cervical screening plan will change. Pap tests are a preventative measure against cervical, vaginal, and anal cancers.
