A Pap Smear is a screening test that was introduced in Australia in 1991, in efforts to reduce incidents and deaths from cervical cancer.
If you are someone who has googled ‘Pap Smear’ since December 2017, you may have discovered you don’t need to have a Pap Smear any more. Pap Smears are history.
What?! Is this because cervical cancer has been eliminated?
Unfortunately no, cervical cancer is still a risk to anyone with a cervix (women, transgender men, people with an intersex variation or non-binary folk with a cervix).
The rates of cervical cancer have continued to fall in Australia. The Federal Government’s National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer aims to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health issue in Australia by 2035! (Wouldn't that be wonderful?) But we still have work to do on this.
So, screening continues. The change is that instead of Pap Smears, you have Cervical Screening Tests.
Wait - does that mean no more swabs waved around my cervix?!
- The Cervical Screening Test involves a swab in your cervix (boo).
- But it does mean you do it less often (yay!).
- And most people are eligible to insert the swab themselves instead of having the doctor do it (empowerment!).
Between the ages of 25 – 75 years old you have a Cervical Screening Test every five years, instead of a Pap Smear every two-three years.
Self-collection for those eligible has been available since July 2022. Evidence shows it is just as accurate as the doctor-collected sample.
Research shows those who have experienced sexual abuse, either as adults or children, are less likely to attend regular cervical screening. It is estimated one in five Australian women has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, so that is a lot of us who are at risk of missing out on potentially life-saving Cervical Screening Tests. Knowing you can ask about self-collection is action you can take to look after your own body. Your doctor can discuss eligibility for self-collection with you.
Self-collection happens in the doctor’s office. It feels a bit like putting in a tampon, but you don’t leave it in. Either standing up or lying down behind the curtain, you insert the swab into your cervix and wiggle it around. It takes just 20 seconds or so then you put the swab into a tube the doctor provides.
So why the change? What’s the difference between a Pap Smear and Cervical Screening Test?
While a Pap Smear looks for changes in the cells of the cervix, the Cervical Screening Test looks for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This is a really important difference because HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancers.
Because the Cervical Screening Test looks for the cause of cancer, it’s more accurate and means we can do something early.
When HPV is found, further tests are done on the same sample to work out what needs to happen next.
Ok. So, what can I do now to reduce my risk of cervical cancer?
The World Health Organisation’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action is 17 November.
You don’t have to wait until November to take these actions - you can get started right now!
Book in with your doctor to have your Cervical Screening Test done
If you are unsure when your last test was done, call The National Cancer Screening Registry on phone 13 15 56.
Ask your doctor if you are eligible for self-collection.
Ensure you’ve had the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination
HPV immunisations are included in a person’s Immunisation History Statement recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). You can:
- look up your Immunisation History Statement online using your Medicare online account through MyGov
- ask your GP to access your immunisation statement on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
- call the AIR on phone 1800 653 809 and request a copy to be mailed to you
Do your best to quit smoking, as this is a risk factor for cervical cancer
Quit Tasmania offers phone and online support and information on how to quit smoking https://www.quittas.org.au/ , phone 13 78 48. Or you can talk to your GP.
References
What Happened to the Pap Smear, WHT (2020)
https://www.womenshealthtas.org.au/blog/what-happened-pap-smear
Australian Government National Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-ged-kearney-mp/media/making-history-by-eliminating-cervical-cancer-in-australia-and-our-region#:~:text=The%20National%20Strategy%20aims%20to,issue%20in%20Australia%20by%202035.
World Health Organization Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action
https://www.who.int/campaigns/cervical-cancer-elimination-day-of-action/2023
Cancer Council
https://www.hpvvaccine.org.au/hpv-vaccine/how-to-get-the-hpv-vaccine#section-2