Stop Putting Off Your Pap Smear

Because you need one – yes, even in your twenties.

- Adora Wong

Most of us know we should go for a Pap smear at least once every few years, but not all of us know what it’s for exactly. Even if we do, we may keep putting it off because, well, we’re busy. But we have to stop doing this.

“Routine Pap smears are still the most common method for detecting cervical cancer. It accurately detects 90 percent of cervical cancers before symptoms develop,” says Dr Christopher Ng, Medical Director of the GynaeMD Women’s & Rejuvenation Clinic at Camden Medical Centre.

Who needs one?

If you’re sexually active, a Pap smear should be on your to-do list as it tells you if you’re at risk of developing cervical cancer, and also helps to prevent it.

“A Pap smear screens for pre-cancer cell changes,” says Dr Chua Yang, Director of A Clinic For Women at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre. “Appropriate treatment is then implemented to remove the abnormal cells. This prevents cancer from developing.”

Most important to know, these pre-cancer cells are usually found in women around our age.

“The age group with the peak incidence [of cervical cancer] is around 40, but pre-cancer cells are most commonly found in 20 to 30-year-olds,” she adds. “Remember, we’re trying to screen for pre-cancer cells rather than find cancer cells, which is too late.”