It has become a standard, routine test for women over the age of
21 to be screened for cervical cancer using the Pap Test during
their annual exam. The reason behind the test is to detect
cancers of the cervix or other abnormalities related to cancers
of the cervix. However The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) and other leading U.S cancer groups have
now suggested that the test be given every two years. The new
guidelines are based on the fact that the ACOG suggests that
women are often subject to false positive results and that
females under the age of 21 are likely to have results that are
not related to cervical cancer and that these conditions will go
away on their own. According to the new ACOG guidelines, women
aged 21 to 30 years should be screened every two years using
either the standard Pap test or liquid-based cytology. In
addition to the yearly guidelines, leading U.S. cancer groups
suggest that women 30 years and older who have had three
consecutive negative (i.e., norma