The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is used to screen for cervical cancer to detect lesions when they are still highly curable. The lead time from the development of precancerous lesions to invasive cancer is estimated at 8-9 years. Genital HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Approximately 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead, in rare cases, to development of cervical cancer.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the national medical organization representing over 45,000 members who provide health care for women, notes that an increasing number of women will no longer need annual testing and it can begin later.

Changes in Screening Frequency

• First screen -- Screening of cervical cytology (cervical cells) should begin by approximately 3 years after first sexual intercourse or by age 21, whichever comes first.
• Women up to age 30 -- Women this age should undergo annual cervical cytology screening.
• Women age 30 and older -- There are two acceptable screening options for women in this age group, says ACOG. Under either option, women may not need annual screening:
• Testing using cervical cytology alone. If a woman age 30 or older has negative results on three consecutive annual cervical cytology tests, then she may be rescreened with cervical cytology alone every 2-3 years.
• The combined use of a cervical cytology test and an FDA-approved test for high-risk types of HPV. Once women test negative on both tests they should be rescreened with the combined tests no more frequently than every 3 years. If only one of the tests is negative, however, more frequent screening will be necessary.
• Hysterectomy -- Women who have had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix for benign reasons and with no history of abnormal or cancerous cell growth may discontinue routine cytology testing. Women who have had such a hysterectomy but who have a history of abnormal cell growth (classified as CIN 2 or 3) should be screened annually until they have three consecutive, negative vaginal cytology tests; then they can discontinue routine screening.
• When to Discontinue Screening -- Physicians can determine on an individual basis when an older woman can stop having cervical cancer screening.
• Annual Exams Continue -- Regardless of the frequency of cervical cancer screening, annual gynecologic examinations, including pelvic exams, are still recommended.
The incidence and death rates from cervical cancer in the US have dropped almost 50% since the widespread use of Pap tests beginning in the early 1970s. Cervical cancer still remains the third most common gynecological cancer in the US. Worldwide, it is the second most common cancer among women and the most common cause of death from a gynecologic cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates that each year in the United States, about 12,000 women develop invasive cervical cancer and about 4,000 women die from this disease. Most women who develop invasive cervical cancer have not had regular cervical cancer screening.

You can read the entire recommendation from the July 2003 press release at:
http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr07-31-03-1.cfm
Other very good information can be found at these web sites:

http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pap.htm
http://www.nccc-online.org/

Empower yourselves though knowledge!