When Should You Start Getting Cervical Cancer Screenings?

Cervical cancer screening is an important preventive health measure, and knowing when to start is key. Here’s a clear breakdown based on international guidelines (which are generally similar in Singapore and many other countries).

When to Start
Age 21: Most guidelines (including the American Cancer Society, WHO, and Singapore’s Ministry of Health) recommend starting cervical cancer screening at age 21, regardless of when you became sexually active.
Younger than 21: Screening is not recommended for women under 21, as cervical cancer is very rare at this age and minor abnormalities often resolve on their own.

Screening Schedule
Ages 21–29: Pap smear every 3 years.
Ages 30–65: You can choose one of the following:

Pap smear every 3 years, OR
HPV testing every 5 years, OR
Co-testing (Pap + HPV) every 5 years.
Above 65: Screening may stop if you’ve had consistently normal results in the past 10 years.

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