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Who Should Screen

Anyone with a cervix, including women and TTGD (Two-Spirit, transgender and gender diverse) people, between the ages of 25 and 69, should screen for cervical cancer every three or five years. 

You should screen regularly for cervical cancer if:

  • You’ve had the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
  • You've ever had any sexual contact with another person of any gender, even if you are not sexually active right now; and/or
  • You’ve been through menopause
You do not need to screen for cervical cancer if:

  • You have any symptoms, like bleeding between periods.
  • You've had your cervix removed for any reason (such as total hysterectomy).
    Talk to a health care provider to see if cervix screening is still required. 
You should screen for cervical cancer using a Pap test if: 

  • You’re pregnant or using a pessary.
    See a health care provider to discuss cervix screening options and when to screen. 
You can stop cervix screening at age 69 if you’ve always had normal Pap tests. Talk to a health care provider if you’ve had treatment for pre-cancer cells in the past.

Your questions

 

Screening is recommended for people with a cervix, including women and TTGD (Two-Spirit, transgender and gender-diverse) people. If you do not have a cervix, we can update our records so you no longer receive future communications about cervix screening.

 
If you have any of the following speak to a health care provider. It is important to investigate these symptoms - even if your screening results are normal.
  • Vaginal bleeding after sex, between periods or after menopause
  • Abnormal or increased vaginal discharge
  • Unexplained pelvic pain or pain during sex

 

A positive HPV result might cause some anxiety: This result doesn’t mean you have or will develop cervical cancer. Most people will clear an HPV infection, and not everyone with an HPV infection will develop cancer. 


No screening test is perfect:  Your cervix self-screening result could say no HPV is found even if you have pre-cancerous cells or cervical cancer. Or it might show HPV, even if your cervix cells are normal. Your Pap test result may say there are abnormal cells when there aren’t, or the test may miss abnormal cells that are really there.

Possible concerns and impacts of screening: Screening could result in additional tests and procedures that may be stressful for some people, and could have potential long-term impacts on future pregnancy (pre-term birth or low birth weight).  

Hands holding cervix self-screening swab
Request a self-screening kit

Or by phone: 1-877-702-6566 

Please Note: The disruption to Canada Post services means we can’t send you cervix self-screening kits. Cervix Self-Screening kit ordering is still available. However, your kit will not be mailed to you until postal services resume.
SOURCE: Who Should Screen ( )
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