Cervical cancer screening is usually better when it starts at age 21 or older when you are sexually active.
The cause of cervical cancer is related to HPV infection, as well as frequency of sex, age of sexual debut, and number of sexual partners. If you start having sex earlier, your chances of HPV infection and cervical cancer increase accordingly.
Cervical cancer screening is recommended for women over the age of 21 from the time they start having sex. Cervical cytology is usually recommended every 3 years for women up to age 30, and every 5 years for women over age 30 for HPV and cervical cytology.
If there are no abnormalities on standardized screening, screening can usually be stopped after age 65. However, if standardized screening has not been performed, or if previous screening was abnormal, continued standardized screening is recommended.
It is recommended to screen according to one’s own situation, and to consult the doctor if there is any abnormality, and to treat it aggressively.