Cervical Cancer Screening

Get cervical cancers screenings regularly

• A Pap test and/or HPV test are the best ways to find cervical cancer early so that it can be treated successfully. Through the Pap test, a health care provider can check for abnormal cells and cancer cells on the cervix. The HPV test looks for the virus that is the main cause of cervical cancer.
• Risk of developing cervical cancer increases with age, especially in women past childbearing years. Cervical cancer screenings are important because a woman usually doesn’t have any signs or symptoms of cervical cancer.

How often do I need to get screened? 

Two tests are widely used to screen for cancer in the cervix: the Pap test can find abnormal cells early, before they turn into cancer and the HPV test looks for the virus that is the main cause of cervical cancer.

• All women should begin cervical cancer testing (screening) at age 21.
• Women ages 21 to 29, should have a Pap test every 3 years. HPV testing should not be used for screening in this age group unless it is needed after an abnormal Pap test result.
• Beginning at age 30, women should be screened with a Pap test combined with a HPV test every 5 years as long as the test results are normal. This is called co-testing and should continue until age 65. It is also a reasonable option for women ages 30 to 65 to get tested every 3 years with only the Pap test.

What services are covered by Women's Way?

Women’s Way covers payment for program-enrolled women ages 40 through 64 for:

• Pap test every three years or every five years with combination of Pap test and HPV testing for women who want to lengthen the screening interval.
• Annual Pap tests for high-risk populations which include women with exposure in utero to diethylstilbestrol or those who have HIV or weakened immune system who require more frequent screening.
• Pap tests for women with total hysterectomies with removal of the cervix due to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or 3 or cervical cancer.
• Repeat Pap tests needed for follow-up of an abnormal Pap test.
• Cervical diagnostic services such as colposcopies and biopsies.

Women’s Way covers payment for program-enrolled women ages 21 through 39 for:

• Pap test, if due or past due for screening according to the current USPSTF Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines – has not had a Pap test within the last 3 to 5 years.
• Pap test as a follow-up to a previous abnormal result.
• HPV test (women ages 21-29) only if the woman has had a documented abnormal Pap test and HPV test is indicated according to the ASCCP guideline.
• HPV test (women ages 30-39) as part of co-testing along with Pap test or if needed due to an abnormal Pap test result.
• Cervical diagnostic services