According to new guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women in U.S.  should take pap smear test at age 21and most of them do not need Pap smear annually.

Women should undergo screening for cervical cancer before the age of 30 for every two years instead of an annual exam.pap smear

Women aged 30 and older should go for screening once for every three years.

These guidelines are based on the evidence that suggests testing more frequently leads to over treatment, which can harm young woman’s chances of carrying a child full term.

Women don’t get cervical cancer first, but they acquire HPV. The HPV virus causes precancerous abnormalities of the cervix and cervical cancer.

Source: Reuters