Women's Health

General Gynecology

Understanding the Pap Test

How often should I have a Pap test?

You should have your first Pap test when you turn 18 or when you become sexually active. Since no test is 100% accurate, it's very important for women to have regular Pap tests–annually for most women and more often if you have a family or personal history of problems. Over time, repeat tests with normal results make it highly unlikely that a problem has been missed.