A recent study by the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health revealed that 40 per cent of women under the age of 30 are not having regular pap tests. Researcher Dr Mandy Deeks expressed her concern over this worrying result. "The pap screen figures were lower than we expected," says Mandy. "Young women are not attending for pap screens as much as they should be."
All women are advised to have a pap test every two years to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer. For some women, more frequent pap tests are recommended. (See your health practitioner to find out if this applies to you.)
It is important to remember that pap tests are screening tools. This means that the test will not diagnose 100 per cent of cervical cancers. Pap tests have a 10-15 per cent false negative rate, meaning 10-15 per cent of cancers can be missed. This is why it is important to continue regular screening.
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