paps smear question

[workin'mumof2]

i really hope i dont sound stupid asking this..

but if you stop having sex do you have to keep having the paps smears?

[AM]

I've just been looking this up.

Apparently you 'should' still have them, as one of the risk factors is how often and with how many partners you were sexually active with during adolescence, where the chances of being unknowingly exposed to the HPV virus is at its highest.

So 'current' sexual activity status seems to have not 'so' much bearing on the issue....

[workin'mumof2]

am - what if ive only had one sexual partner (dh) and i trust him complicitly

hes my first and only ;) im his first and only too

[trin_007]

My understanding is that if you've "EVER" had sex, you should have a pap smear every two years (unless something is wrong and then it should be more frequent...).


Some info from the govt cancer screening website:

6. Should I have a Pap smear?
If you are over 18 and have ever had sex, you should have regular Pap smears, even if you no longer have sex. This includes male to female, and female to female sex.

There is no need to have Pap smears earlier than 18, even if you start having sex earlier. At age 70 your doctor may advise that it’s safe to stop having Pap smears if you have had two normal Pap smears within the last five years.
Top of page

7. Should lesbians have Pap smears?
Yes. HPV infection is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact, most often during vaginal or anal sex. The infection can also be transmitted through other types of sexual activity such as oral-genital and manual-genital contact, although this may be less common.
Top of page

8. When should I start having Pap smears?
All women who have ever had sex should start having Pap smears between the ages of 18 and 20 years, or two years after first having sex - whichever is later.

[AM]

am - what if ive only had one sexual partner (dh) and i trust him complicitly

hes my first and only ;) im his first and only too


Well, you sound fairly low risk in that department... :)