DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've had several abnormal Pap smears, and I'm worried about getting cervical cancer. How often should I be getting a Pap smear? Are there things I can do to prevent cervical cancer?

The pap smear (or pap test) is one of the cornerstones of women's health. It was introduced in the 1940's as a way to screen for abnormal cervical cells. Starting at the age of 21 women are ...

Wondering how often cervical screening is needed? A senior gynaecologist explains age-wise guidelines, tests involved, and ...

World Cancer Day, observed every year on February 4, serves as a reminder of the importance of cancer awareness, early ...

The latest guidelines recommend beginning Pap smear screening within three years after the onset of sexual activity or at age 21. I have encountered two teenagers, aged 18 and 15, who have developed ...

A normal colposcopy result means a person has no cervical cancer cells, including precancerous ones. Abnormal results may indicate a person has cancerous or precancerous cells in their cervix.

I was not expecting to receive my pap smear test letter before I turned 25, so when mine fell through the letterbox in mid-March — exactly six months before my 25th birthday — I felt a little bit sick ...

Hence, it is advisable to start screening from 3 years after the first sexual intercourse. The western medical literature ...