"Ten Common Myths About Pap Smears That You Should Stop Believing" - Savanna Swain-Wilson

More than 13,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer this year. A routine pap exam can help women lower their risk of developing cervical cancer. It’s important to dispel myths about the pap exam so people aren’t misinformed about their role in preventative care. One myth is that if a person has one sexual partner, they don’t need to get a pap test. This is a dangerous misconception that can lead to a huge mistake. HPV isn’t like other sexually transmitted infections, like chlamydia, where symptoms can show up immediately. Sometime HPV can lie dormant for years before it shows up on a test. This means even if a person’s pap smear results come back clear one year, it’s possible they still carry HPV that isn’t showing on the test. Laura Corio, MD, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai said, “HPV never really leaves your body.” If HPV is left undetected, there’s a possibility it could lead to cervical cancer. This is why it’s important to always get tested, even if you’ve been in a long-term, monogamous relationship.

— Laura A. Corio, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

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