Do I Need a Pap Test Every Year? OBGYN Explains New Guidelines | Cervical Cancer Screening Guide

Many patients ask: “Why don’t I need a Pap test every year anymore?” In this video, Dr. Prabhakar, board-certified OB-GYN, explains the current Pap test and HPV screening guidelines, why they changed, and what you actually need to know to protect yourself from cervical cancer. In this video you’ll learn: ✔️ Why it’s called a Pap test, not a Pap smear ✔️ When Pap testing starts (age 21) ✔️ How often Pap tests are needed in your 20s vs 30s ✔️ When and why HPV testing is added ✔️ What HPV is and how it relates to cervical cancer ✔️ What Pap tests do — and do not — screen for ✔️ Why you still need annual GYN visits even without a Pap ⏱️ Quick guideline overview: • Ages 21–29: Pap test every 3 years • Age 30+: Pap + HPV testing every 3–5 years • HPV vaccination is recommended (up to age 45) 💡 Cervical cancer is typically slow-growing, which is why screening intervals are longer than many people expect. 📌 Important: A Pap test only screens for cervical cancer — not ovarian, uterine, breast, or colon cancer. If this video helped clarify Pap tests and HPV screening, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may be confused or worried about their results. 📍 In California? We’re happy to see you for a consult. 🩺 Cheruba Prabakar, MD FACOG Gynecologist & Minimally Invasive Surgeon Lamorinda Gynecology and Surgery 📞 (925) 744-7473 📠 (925) 307-5749 📩 [email protected] 📍 911 Moraga Road, Suite 201, Lafayette, CA, 94549 🌐 www.lamorindagyn.com 🌎 Outside California? We offer coaching calls to guide you through your options. https://linktr.ee/thefibroiddoc 💬 Drop your questions in the comments — I read and respond. 🔔 Subscribe for evidence-based women’s health education. 🔗 RECOMMENDED LINKS & RESOURCES 📺 Watch the next video:    / @thefibroiddoc   👩‍⚕️ Find a NAMS Certified Practitioner Near You: https://www.menopause.org 📱 Follow my socials: @thefibroiddoc 📣 STAY CONNECTED 🔸 Subscribe to this channel for expert women’s health education 🔸 Share this video with someone who needs to hear this 💌 About Dr. P:Dr. Cheruba Prabakar is a board-certified OB-GYN specializing in fibroid care and comprehensive women’s health. She is passionate about patient education, minimally invasive treatment options, and empowering women to make informed decisions about their bodies. She specializes in menopause care, fibroids, and sexual medicine through her boutique private practice: Lamorinda Gynecology and Surgery in Lafayette, CA. #PapTest #HPV #CervicalCancerPrevention #WomensHealth #OBGYN #PapSmear #HPVvaccine #Gynecology #PreventiveCare