Smear test for a virgin

Do I need a smear test if I am sexually inactive?

Protein found in my urine

Question

I am a 40-year-old woman who is still a virgin. Do I need to go for a cervical smear test or not?

Answer

If you have never had sexual intercourse, you probably do not need to have a cervical smear test.

Cervical cancer is more common in women who are sexually active, and the risk increases with number of sexual partners a woman has.

Cervical cancer is virtually unknown in nuns. Doing a smear test on a woman who is a virgin can also be quite difficult.

Unless you have a strong family history of cervical cancer or you have symptoms such as irregular bleeding between periods, it isn't essential you have a smear test because the risk of you developing cervical cancer is very low.

Yours sincerely

Dr Keith Barnard, GP

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