Skipping your Pap? A major gyno-no.
The rate of timely cervical screenings in the United States and abroad has declined in recent years — and that’s a red flag. Cervical cancer often shows no signs until it has already spread, dramatically increasing the risk of death.
To get to the bottom of this concerning trend, AXA Health Insurance surveyed women in the UK and uncovered the top misconceptions about cervical screenings.
Testing specifics
More than half of women surveyed mistakenly believed that Pap smears test for cancer.
In reality, the primary goal of the test is to detect abnormal cell changes in the cervix — changes that, if caught early, can be treated before cancer even develops.
These cell changes are often caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that typically clears up on its own but can lead to cancerous cell growth if it persists in the body.
Frequency
Nearly 1 in 4 participants believe cervical cancer screenings are required every four years, but that’s not the case.
Women between the ages of 25 and 49 should actually be getting screened every three years — the period when cervical cancer is most likely to develop, according to Dr. Pallavi Bradshaw, deputy chief medical officer at AXA Health.
“Testing every three years allows your healthcare professional to detect and monitor any changes to the cells in your cervix,” Bradshaw said. “As we age, our risk of developing cervical cancer decreases, so women between the ages of 50 to 64 are advised to attend a cervical screening every five years.”
However, if you test positive for HPV, don’t expect to wait that long for your next screening. Bradshaw said you’ll likely be asked to return for more frequent testing, often annually, to monitor any changes to your cells.
Starting age
Around 1 in 3 women think that you can ask to be screened before you’re 25. That’s not true for most people.
Cervical cancer is very rare in women under 25, which is why routine screening is generally considered unnecessary.
Changes in the cells of the cervix are also common in this age group and usually resolve on their own. As a result, experts warn that early screening could lead to unnecessary follow-up tests and treatments that may not be beneficial and could even cause side effects.
However, doctors may recommend early screening for some women, such as those with a weakened immune system, high-risk sexual behavior or abnormal symptoms like pelvic pain.
Length
AXA found that about 15% of women believe Pap smears take 30 minutes on average. Fortunately, that’s not the case.
“Cervical screenings are quick procedures, with the test often taking only a few minutes to complete,” Bradshaw said.
Pain
Researchers found that the most common reason for avoiding a Pap smear is being concerned pain or discomfort — but it’s typically not as painful as many believe.
“Cervical screenings should be painless procedures, with only some slight discomfort felt when the speculum is inserted,” Bradshaw said.
Most women only feel discomfort when the speculum stretches the vaginal walls. If you feel any pain, Bradshaw recommends letting your doctor know right away.
Sexual activity
While 35% of survey participants correctly identified HPV as a sexually transmitted infection, 7% wrongly assumed that if you aren’t sexually active, you don’t need a screening.
Bradshaw speculated that this misconception may stem from the fact that HPV is often spread through penetrative sex.
“However, HPV can be passed through non-penetrative sex, skin-to-skin contact with genitals, through objects or surfaces that the virus is present on and from a mother to child,” she said. “Therefore, it is crucial that all women regularly attend cervical screenings.”
In the United States
Once a leading cause of cancer death for American women, cervical cancer rates have plummeted by more than 50% since the mid-1970s, largely thanks to the HPV vaccine and screening, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Today, cervical cancer is highly treatable if detected early — but the challenge is that the disease often shows no symptoms until it has already advanced. This makes it crucial to stay on top of your gynecologist visits, yet research shows that the number of women staying up to date on their screenings is on the decline.
A 2022 study found that between 2005 and 2019, the percentage of women overdue for cervical screenings increased from 14% to 19%. The primary reasons? Lack of awareness about the need for screenings or simply not knowing when to get them.
The ACS estimates that in 2025, there will be about 13,360 new cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in the US, and 4,320 women will die from the disease.
